Rangers 2 - 0 Yankees
Final
  for this game

Yanks, Rangers both eye a series win in the Bronx

Jun 27, 2013 - 1:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Mew York Yankees could be losing patience with Phil Hughes. The right-hander can change a lot of minds Thursday when the Yankees play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

Hughes, though, has lost three straight starts in the Bronx and is pitching to a horrific 13.91 ERA in those outings. The former first round pick lost for the fourth time in five decisions last Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he surrendered five runs and 10 hits in six innings to fall to 3-6 on the year to go along with a 5.09 ERA.

With Ivan Nova back in the mix, Hughes could be pitching for his spot in the rotation on Thursday.

"My only concern is pitching well," Hughes said. "Things that I can't control, I don't really concern myself with."

In four appearances (3 starts) against Texas, Hughes is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA.

Texas, meanwhile, will counter with lefty Derek Holland, who has enjoyed zero success versus the Yankees. Holland has faced the Yanks eight times (7 starts) and is a miserable 0-5 against them with an 8.85 ERA.

"I know New York has been pretty tough, but my job is not to worry about that," Holland said. "I need to turn the page and make something else happen."

Holland is winless in his last four overall starts and is 5-4 this season with a 3.43 ERA.

Texas evened this series at a game apiece on Wednesday, as Nelson Cruz belted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to help the Rangers to an 8-5 win. Adrian Beltre finished with three hits and two RBI for Texas, which won for the sixth time in seven games.

Ichiro Suzuki, who hit a walk-off homer to end Texas' five-game winning streak, launched a two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh on Wednesday to trim the deficit to one, but Texas scored twice in the ninth to go back up by three.

Texas starter Justin Grimm (7-5) picked up the win, while Andy Pettitte (5-6) absorbed the loss and gave up four runs in the third.

"I thought Andy was good. His control was good his cutter was good. He made a couple of mistakes, but he was very good," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Despite Wednesday's win, the Rangers are just 6-16 in their last 22 in the Bronx.






Related News