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Yankees conclude set with Indians in Hughes' return

Jul 6, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - Derek Jeter's quest for hit No. 3,000 could be put on hold this evening when the New York Yankees play the rubber match of their three- game series with the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Jeter had two hits and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-2 win and is now just four hits shy of becoming the first Yankee player to reach the milestone. But, with a four-game series at Yankee Stadium looming and Jeter just back from the disabled list, Yankees manager Joe Girardi could opt to sit his All-Star shortstop in tonight's finale.

"I want to talk to him, think about it and I'll go from there," Girardi said. "As I've said, my concern is us winning ballgames and him being healthy."

Jeter, though, won't make it easy for his manager.

"I won't say I'll talk myself in, because as of now, I'm not out," Jeter said. "I feel fine to play tomorrow. I'd like to play tomorrow. It's hard to sit anyway. I've sat for three weeks. It would be hard to sit if I had no hits (Tuesday) and was six away. I want to play."

Curtis Granderson hit two homers, drove in three and scored three times in Tuesday's rout, while CC Sabathia tossed seven scoreless innings, as the Yanks ended a brief two-game slide to win for the eighth time in their last 10 tries.

Sabathia (12-4) gave up five hits, struck out 11 and walked two in his fifth straight victory.

Carlos Carrasco (8-5) allowed six runs on 10 hits over four innings for Cleveland, which has dropped two of three. He walked three and struck out three.

"I didn't feel like he was aggressive enough with his fastball early in the game," Indians manager Manny Acta said of Carrasco.

The Yankees hope Phil Hughes' early season struggles are behind him tonight, as he starts for the first time since April 14 following a bout with a "dead arm" and right shoulder inflammation. An 18-game winner a year ago, Hughes was just 0-1 in three starts, while pitching to a 13.94 ERA.

"It should be exciting," said Hughes, who had a 1.93 ERA in three Minor League rehab starts spanning 14 innings. "I'm happy to have this opportunity. I was hoping I didn't need too many starts down in the minor leagues. I'm excited to be back, and hopefully tomorrow goes really well."

Hughes has faced the Indians three times and is 2-0 against them with a 3.50 ERA.

Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with sinkerballer Justin Masterson, who is 6-6 with a 2.85 ERA. Masterson was terrific in Cincinnati on Friday, as he allowed a run and four hits in eight innings to get the win.

Masterson is 1-2 lifetime against the Yanks with a 3.80 ERA in seven games, three of which have been starts.

The Yankees took three of four from the Indians earlier in the year and own a 14-5 record in the past 18 meetings.