FORT MYERS, Fla. – Until further notice, Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte are running one-two in the Yankees’ rotation. However, they aren’t so far ahead of Phil Hughes they can’t feel his youthful breath on their necks.
The 21-year-old Hughes has clearly been the Yankees’ best pitcher this spring and he cemented that yesterday at Hammond Stadium by tossing four innings of no-hit ball at the Twins in a 6-4 Yankees win.
“They told me what he was doing last year and he was (in Tampa) a lot (during the off-season),” Joe Girardi said. “He was in excellent shape and he is growing as a pitcher.”
Facing the team that wanted him in any deal for Johan Santana, Hughes retired the initial nine Twins before walking Denard Spain to open the fourth. It was the first of two walks Hughes issued.
“My fastball command was good and I threw a couple of good change-ups,” Hughes said. “The slider was pretty bad, but it’s getting there. It was good that I got to work with runners on base.”
In two official exhibition games (the University of South Florida doesn’t count), Hughes has worked five frames without surrendering a hit. Hughes threw 55 pitchers and guessed he will be around 70 the next time. He also is hoping he doesn’t leave his quality stuff in Florida.
“I feel good,” Hughes said. “I hope I don’t waste all my good innings in spring training.”
Considering the clouds hanging over the Yankees’ rotation, they have their fingers crossed that a sensational Florida doesn’t flatten out on Hughes. Wang is coming off a serious beating, Pettitte’s season could be fractured if he is involved in the Roger Clemens’ saga, Ian Kennedy has made three big league starts and Mike Mussina is 39.
So, the Yankees have their fingers crossed Hughes doesn’t leave his arsenal under the palm trees.