(Sports Network) – Phil Hughes makes what could be his final start this evening when the New York Yankees continue a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
Manager Joe Girardi has said that he will abandon the six-man rotation after his pitchers take one more turn, but Hughes could be the odd-man out after a pair of poor outings. He, of course, thrived out of the bullpen during the Yanks’ World Series championship season of 2009, but won 18 games as a starter last season.
After lasting just 2 2/3 innings in a no-decision against Oakland, Hughes allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in Boston on Wednesday, as he fell to 4-5 on the year to go along with a 6.75 ERA.
“I thought he threw the ball pretty good,” Girardi said afterward. “You’re going to look up and he’s going to give up six runs, but I thought he pitched better than that.”
Hughes is 4-2 in 12 games (nine starts) against the Orioles.