DETROIT — What did we glean from a Yankees-Tigers doubleheader split at Comerica Park yesterday?
Javier Vazquez took the first positive step of the season and Phil Hughes introduced himself as an early AL Cy Young candidate.
Pitching with a right ear infection, Vazquez provided seven strong innings during a 2-0 loss in the first game that was witnessed by 27,376. In the nightcap, Hughes dominated the Tigers across seven innings of an 8-0 victory in front of 28,514.
“I was very pleased with the performance of the starters,” manager Joe Girardi said after the day that started at 1:06 p.m. ended at 10:15. “We got seven innings out of both of them and didn’t overwork the bullpen.”
Based on Vazquez easily throwing his best game of what has been a nightmare season for the veteran right-hander maybe the Yankees should inject wax into Vazquez’s right ear every five days.
Hughes? Ignore him, he’s just fine.
The only problem with Vazquez allowing two runs and five hits in seven frames was that the Yankees’ lineup was blanked for the first time this season.
In seven innings Hughes allowed five hits, fanned eight and walked one. After opening the season as the No. 5 starter, Hughes is on the move with numbers (5-0; 1.40 ERA) that are better than CC Sabathia’s, A.J. Burnett’s and Andy Pettitte’s.
“I am not looking how I have done so far,” Hughes said. “There are still a lot of games left.”
Shortly after the first game, Vazquez visited a doctor to see about his ear problem.
“My father has had a lot of ear problems, and so do I,” Vazquez said.
Considering Vazquez began the overcast day with a 1-3 record and a 9.78 ERA in five starts and was skipped against the Red Sox so he wouldn’t have to deal with the pressure of working in Fenway Park, yesterday was a positive.Still, seven strong innings can’t delete the memories of the first five outings.
“When you throw a good game you get your confidence going but I still have a lot of work to do and hopefully make improvements,” said Vazquez, who fell to 1-4 but lowered the ERA to 8.10.
Vazquez, 33, is respected in the clubhouse for his work ethic, professionalism and low-key look at life. So, it was expected that teammates were happy for him.
Yet, it would have been easier for Vazquez to accept their congratulations if they were wrapped in a victory.
“We lost the game and it was a tough loss,” Vazquez said of the defeat that pushed the Yankees’ longest losing streak of the season to three. “But in my case it was a step forward.”
Now, it’s important to keep the cleats shuffling north. A little more support from the bats would help.
“It’s a shame we didn’t score runs,” said Jorge Posada, whose fourth-inning double was the only extra base hit of the four hits the Yankees got off Seton Hall Prep product Rick Porcello in seven innings. “If we would have scored some runs we would have won the game.”
Pettitte said he was impressed with Vazquez’s performance.
“I am proud for him, this is a good game to build on,” Pettitte said of Vazquez, whose next start, providing today’s game doesn’t get washed out, likely would be Monday against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. “No matter how good you pitch, it’s still disappointing to lose the game. But he threw great today.”
With a clogged ear and dead bats.
george.king@nypost.com