(Sports Network) - Phil Hughes makes his case to stay in the New York Yankees rotation this evening when they continue a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Hughes, who could be the odd man out when Freddy Garcia returns on Saturday, has won his last two starts, but is just 3-4 on the year with a 6.55 earned run average. He beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday by holding them to a pair of runs and four hits in six innings.
"It's hard enough to pitch a really good game when you have a clear conscience so I knew I couldn't let anything distract me," Hughes said.
He is 3-3 with a 4.28 ERA in seven games since returning from the disabled list in early July.
Hughes has faced the Twins three times (one start) and has yet to record a decision against them, pitching to a 3.68 ERA in those outings.
New York opened this set with a win on Thursday, as Mark Teixeira finished 2- for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and two walks, carrying the Yankees to an 8-4 win.
Nick Swisher added a two-run shot and Andruw Jones hit a mammoth solo blast for New York, which won for the sixth time in eight games to stay atop the AL East standings by a half-game over Boston.