Yanks win Fifth straight series

Opponent: Oakland Athletics
Location: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Overall Record: 11-4
Series MVP: Phil Hughes
Honorable Mention: Patience of the hitters from Game 1
Quote of the Series: Comes from game two starter Phil Hughes following his near no-hitter on Wednesday night.

"I guess you’ve got to fantasize about it sometimes because it’s probably not going to happen again.”

The Yankees came into Oakland fresh off a sweep of the Texas Rangers and were in search of their fifth consecutive series win.  They were trying to become the first Yankee team to win the first five series of the season since the 1926 team.

And boy did they accomplish that.

In game one of the season, Javy Vazquez finally earned first win since returning to pinstripes.  Well, it was actually on the road so he's yet to earn the fan's respect yet. But that's irrelevant.  Vazquez pitched into the sixth inning and gave up three runs in the team's 7-3 victory.  Tuesday's game was one that umpire Joe West would sure complain about.  The game last nearly four hours and was aided by the Yankees 10 walk effort.

Wednesday's game was simply magical.  23 year-old Phil Hughes pitched 7 no hit innings, before losing the no hitter on a come-backer off of Hughes in the 8th inning.  Hughes had ten strikeouts in an amazing performance.  The Yanks won the game 3-1.  To think that Hughes is so good as the Yankees fifth starter is unbelievable.  Many teams now could use Hughes as their second starter (Red Sox ring a bell? but wait they have Jon Lester!).  It's going to be scary to think how good Hughes will be in a few years.

Thursday's game brought an end to the six game winning streak the team had run up.  CC Sabathia was a little wild but not terrible.  The final score of the game was 4-2.  The offense was simply shut down by Oakland starter Dallas Braden.  Braden and Alex Rodriguez had their own little conflict that Chad Jennings of the Journal News explains perfectly here.

Next Up: The Yankees look to get back on track against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight at Angels Stadium.

- Courtney