New York Yankees move Phil Hughes up to game two
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi has decided to move starting pitcher Phil Hughes into the number two slot, giving him the ball in game two of the American League Championship Series against the Texas Rangers should the series extend to at least six
games.
Girardi has chosen to give the game two start to the youngster Hughes, while moving veteran Andy Pettitte to the number three spot. Meanwhile, game one will be pitched by staff-ace CC Sabathia and game four will be given to A.J. Burnett.
The Yankees will start the series on the road in Arlington, which was a major factor in the decision to bump Hughes up to second in the rotation. The youngster has had success in Texas in his short career. In just his second start in the majors Hughes tossed
6 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball in Arlington. In addition, Hughes has played three games in Texas, two of which were starts, and has thrown 15 1/3 scoreless innings. In addition, Hughes was able to put up better numbers on the road this season, allowing only
five homeruns away from home.
Hughes victory in Texas was the first of his career, a game in which he pitched against current Yankee Mark Teixeira. Teixeira was able to recall facing the youngster in 2007, stating. “I just remember not getting many good pitches to hit. I think his curveball
was pretty good. I don’t remember too much about the outing, but it was our first time seeing him and we said ‘Man, this is going to be a tough day.’”
The Yankees were able to advance to the ALCS by sweeping the Minnesota Twins, while the Rangers were pushed to five games against the Tampa Bay Rays, a series in which neither team won a game at home.
This season with the Yankees Hughes played his way to 18 wins and a 4.19 ERA with 146 strikeouts.
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