Phil Hughes takes no-hit bid into 8th inning of Yankees’ 3-1 win over Oakland

Hughes carries no-hit bid into 8th, Yanks win

OAKLAND, Calif. — Phil Hughes took a no-hit try into the eighth inning Wednesday night, losing his bid when Eric Chavez bounced a hard comebacker off the pitcher’s forearm and chest in the New York Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Hughes (2-0) struck out a career-high 10 in the Yankees’ sixth straight win. He was in complete control until Chavez opened the eighth with a one-hopper back to the mound.

Hughes had little time to react and the ball hit near his glove, around his left hip. The 23-year-old righty couldn’t find the ball in front of the mound as Chavez hustled for a single.

This was the second near-miss for the defending World Series champions this season. CC Sabathia held Tampa Bay hitless for 7 2-3 innings on April 10.

Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez pitched the majors’ only no-hitter of 2010 last Saturday night at Atlanta.

Hughes right-hander was trying for the Yankees’ first no-hitter since David Cone’s perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999. Hughes had come close before — in 2007, during his second major league start, he had a no-hitter going through 6 1-3 innings at Texas before he suddenly hurt his left hamstring and had to leave the game.

Hughes won the fifth spot in the Yankees’ rotation by pitching well in spring training, and his outing at Oakland was his best performance this season. After a one-out walk to Daric Barton in the first inning, Hughes retired 20 straight batters before Chavez’s infield hit.

Overall, Hughes gave up only one hit in 7 1-3 innings and walked two.

Two batters after Chavez got aboard, Hughes walked Gabe Gross and was done. He was charged with Oakland’s lone run in the standout 101-pitch performance after pinch-hitter Jake Fox had an RBI single off Joba Chamberlain.

Mariano Rivera finished the three-hitter for his sixth save in as many chances.

Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back triples to start the fourth off $10 million A’s ace Ben Sheets (1-1). Jorge Posada followed Cano’s hit with an RBI groundout. Brett Gardner’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth provided an insurance run.

New York matched the 1926 Yankees’ franchise record by winning its first five series of the season.

Hughes shut down the A’s by pounding the zone with his spot-on fastball and mixing in an effective curveball. He quieted the crowd of 30,211 for much of the chilly, breezy spring evening in the Bay Area. It was Hughes’ first career start against Oakland.

Hughes began last season in the minors then was called up April 28. He made seven starts before becoming a reliable reliever as closer Rivera’s primary setup man over the final three months.

The Yankees have held opponents to three or fewer runs in each game during their winning streak.

Both managers mixed up their lineups for the middle game of the series. Randy Winn earned a start in right field for the Yankees in place of Nick Swisher. Oakland manager Bob Geren rested leadoff hitter and center fielder Rajai Davis for part of the night, moving Cliff Pennington to the top of the order and putting catcher Kurt Suzuki in the cleanup spot.

The umpiring crew changed, too. Ed Rapuano was replaced for the final two games of the series after taking a foul ball off his facemask Tuesday night as plate umpire. The A’s said Rapuano was taking a few days off as a precaution. Pacific Coast League umpire Mike Muchlinski was called up to take Rapuano’s spot.

NOTES: New York last hit consecutive triples on Aug. 25, 2007, by Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon vs. Detroit. … A’s LF Travis Buck was a late scratch with a strained right oblique muscle, replaced by Eric Patterson. … A high school team from nearby Vallejo, the hometown of Sabathia, hung out on the field before the game. Sabathia pitches Thursday afternoon’s series finale. … Harlem Globetrotter Moo Moo Evans threw out the ceremonial first pitch.