Last night, Alex Rodriguez still didn’t hit his 600th home run….but that’s not what’s important.

The game against the Tampa Bay Rays started off what seemed to be a breeze for the Yankees.  Derek Jeter lead off the game with a single and Nick Swisher followed with a first pitch two-run home run. 

“I was trying to revenge my Marte punch-out,” says Swisher.

Phil Huhges seemed to be dominant throughout the game.  He went six innings, gave up four hits, and only walked two.  He also struck out six batters.  However, he made one mistake in the sixth inning and it cost him big time.  That mistake was a fastball over the plate to Matt Joyce who took it over the wall for a three-run home run that won the Rays the game.

“Hughes threw a great game,” says manager Joe Girardi.  “He made one mistake that was unfortunate and cost us the game.  That’s as good a game I think he’s pitched all year.”

Phil Hughes was asked if that mistake was tough after pitching so well and he said, “Yea it’s tough, especially in a game like this.  These games are really important.”

Nick Swisher was asked about his Spiderman-like climb on the wall to try and catch that ball.  He replied, “After watching the replay that ball was about ten rows deep so unless I was having a Coke and a popcorn up there I wasn’t going to catch that.”

Joba Chamberlain came into relief Hughes in the seventh inning and pitched the next two innings with spark.  He gave up no hits and struck out three.  He did a great job after struggle for a while in his last handful of appearances.

“Joba did a tremendous job.  Got himself back on track,”  says Nick Swisher.

As I mentioned earlier since it is on everyone’s mind, Alex Rodriguez is still stuck on 599 home runs.  He had an opportunity to try and tie the game in the 9th, but popped out instead.  We’ll have to watch tonight and see what happens.