BALTIMORE — Phil Hughes and pitching coach Larry Rothschild didn’t make any drastic between-starts changes with tonight’s Yankees starter after he failed to get out of the first inning in his last outing Wednesday against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium.
“I felt I was a little on the side of the ball. That made my fastball go over the middle of the plate. I tried to find the middle of the ball and stay aggressive,’’ said Hughes, who was rocked for seven runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning. “It’s not like I made massive changes.’’
Hughes, who has had two straight rocky outings, says he has forgotten the last nightmare and is focused on tonight’s game against the Orioles.
Yet he knows if the fastball misbehaves, he must find alternative ways to get out hitters.
“It’s all fastball command,’’ Hughes said. “When it’s not there I have to try and figure something out. I have to do a better job when I don’t have my best stuff.’’
The Orioles may not be the ideal team for Hughes to get untracked against. He is 6-5 with a 5.47 ERA in 18 games (15 starts) against Baltimore.
In addition to avoiding getting on the side of the ball, Hughes admitted there is a mental side to avoiding getting hurt in the opening frame.
“Sometimes you have too much adrenaline going [in the first],’’ Hughes said. “I need to do a better job handling my emotions.’’
***
While doing a joint interview for an upcoming issue of Yankees Magazine in the dugout yesterday, Cal Ripken offered Mariano Rivera advice on going through the experience of playing a final season.
“He told me to enjoy it,’’ Rivera said of the Hall of Fame Oriole. “We talked about it and it was good.’’
***
Since Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium was rained out, everybody had a day of rest. And when Joe Girardi posted the lineup last night against Orioles starter Freddy Garcia, Vernon Wells was in for two straight days of rest before entering the 6-4 victory in the eighth as a pinch-hitter. Wells stayed in the game and delivered an RBI double in the 10th.
Girardi started Curtis Granderson in left and Ichiro Suzuki in right.
“Anytime you can get an older guy two days off it is helpful,’’ Girardi said.
With Granderson back, Girardi has Brett Gardner, Suzuki, Wells and Ichiro for three outfield spots. And with Travis Hafner the DH against right-handers, Girardi can’t DH the extra outfielder.
“It’s a good problem to have and something I will have to manage,’’ Girardi said of fitting four into three.
Girardi was aware Wells was a career .438 (7-for-16) hitter against Garcia but noted Ichiro was hitting .367 (11-for-30) versus Garcia.
***
Catcher Chris Stewart said it’s likely he won’t be able to start until Friday against the Rays in St. Petersburg.
Stewart hasn’t played since last Thursday due to a left groin problem.
“I am not ready to put him in a game yet,’’ said Girardi, who would use him if Austin Romine had to leave a game. “He felt no pain but is aware it’s there.’’
Romine got hit in the head on a back-swing by Steve Pearce in the fifth inning. He was asked a couple of questions by the medical staff and remained in the game. Romine got a run-building sacrifice bunt down in the 10th.
***
Yankees security retrieved the ball David Adams hit for his first major league homer in the second inning.
“I didn’t think much of it,’’ Adams said of getting the ball back. “At first I didn’t think there was [a] chance here in Baltimore. But [trainer Mark] Littlefield said our security guys got it.’’
In exchange for some autographs, 13-year-old Mathew Corgnati from Virginia swapped the ball.
***
Last night was Rivera’s 1,070th game and tied him with Hoyt Willhelm for fifth place on the all-time list. … Suzuki went 1-for-4 and has a 20-game hit streak at Camden Yards.
***
In addition to Mark Teixeira taking a small step yesterday, several other injured Yankees worked out in Tampa.
Alex Rodriguez took ground balls, hit off a tee and soft toss and took 25 batting practice pitches in the indoor cage.
“Not bad,’’ Rodriguez told the Associated Press while leaving the minor league complex.
The Yankees aren’t expecting the 37-year-old who is recovering from hip surgery back before the All-Star break (July 15-18).
Kevin Youkilis, who is shelved with a lower back problem, took batting practice on the field, grounders at third and threw to first and second base.
Youkilis also participated in the same simulated game as Teixeira but tracked the pitches and did not swing. Youkilis also ran the bases but not at full speed.
According to GM Brian Cashman, Derek Jeter is slated to visit Dr. Robert Anderson this week in Charlotte to check on the left ankle that is expected to keep the shortstop out at least until after the All-Star break.
As for shortstop Eduardo Nunez (left oblique strain), Cashman said, “[He] is 10 days away for us to think about New York.’’
The Yankees are hoping Michael Pineda, who impressed in a 51-pitch outing in an extended spring training game over the weekend, will be able to make two more extended spring starts before beginning an official minor league rehab assignment early next month.
Joe Girardi said Ivan Nova worked 3 2/3 innings against Clearwater in an extended spring game yesterday but didn’t say what the next step is for Nova who is on the DL with an inflamed right triceps.
Joba Chamberlain threw a bullpen session in Tampa and is expected to pitch in a second minor league rehab game this week. He is on the DL with a right oblique muscle issue.