Phil Hughes picked up right where he left off a year ago.
The right-hander surrendered three home runs in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to Baltimore Saturday in a start even he admitted was ugly.
“I can’t remember the last time I was as bad as that,” Hughes, who allowed 35 homers a year ago, said after getting knocked out before retiring a batter in the fourth. “I wasn’t able to locate a fastball or any off-speed pitches for that matter. Anytime I did have to come in, I left it over the plate and it just got hammered somewhere.”
The loss snapped the Yankees’ four-game winning streak and put their record back at .500 (5-5).
Hughes hardly gave them a chance.
First, it was Ryan Flaherty homering in the second, then it was Nick Markakis leading off the third with a blast of his own.
And after manager Joe Girardi let Hughes start the fourth, Nolan Reimold hit another.
As Hughes struggled to remember what pitches he threw to each batter, he paused.
“It’s bad when you can’t remember all the home runs,” Hughes said, with a chuckle.
But Hughes’ ineffectiveness could become a real issue for the Yankees, if it hasn’t already.
The right-hander was filling in for Andy Pettitte, whose start was delayed because of back stiffness. And it was his second straight subpar performance after he battled back issues throughout the spring. Afterwards, Hughes (0-2, 10.29 ERA) insisted he is healthy and not affected by his shortened spring training.
After opening the season by giving up four runs in a loss in Detroit, Hughes was scheduled to start Thursday in Cleveland before that game was washed out and he was left unsure of when he would make his second outing of the year.
He was replaced by David Phelps in the fourth and left to a chorus of boos, which he acknowledged he is accustomed to.
“I’m used to it, unfortunately,” Hughes said of the reaction. “I’ve been dealing with it since my rookie year.”
He also has been dealing with giving up an alarming number of home runs. Despite winning 16 games in 2012, Hughes surrendered a whopping 35 homers — and 22 of those came in The Bronx.
“Home runs didn’t kill me last year,” Hughes said of his ability to win despite his propensity for giving up homers as a fly-ball pitcher in a small home ballpark. “They weren’t great, but I was able to maneuver around those bad results.”
That wasn’t the case yesterday.
The Yankees scored twice in the second to tie the game at 2-2, but Markakis’ homer put the Orioles up for good.
Pinch-hitter Brennan Boesch struck out with two on in the eighth in the Yankees last best chance to score.
Nate McLouth made a nice running catch in left field to take away a double from Lyle Overbay with two on in the fourth. Vernon Wells hit his third homer of the season in the sixth to cut it to 5-3, but that was as close as the Yankees got.
Phelps was terrific in relief, giving up just one hit in four innings, striking out six. Still, despite two rough starts from Hughes and another from Ivan Nova, Girardi isn’t contemplating making any moves in the rotation.
“I think it’s really early to do that,” Girardi said. “Phil has had a couple of pretty good years as starter for us. Nova had one start [this season] and I don’t think it’s fair to do that. I’m not thinking of making any changes.”
If Hughes doesn’t improve, he may not have a choice.
dan.martin@nypost.com