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Hughes faces White Sox in return to Yankee rotation

Sep 17, 2008 - 10:11 AM Chi White Sox (84-66) at NY Yankees (80-71) 7:05 p.m. EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Many pieces intended to make the New York Yankees' 2008 puzzle create a playoff berth fell out of place. Prized prospect righthander Phil Hughes was one of them.

Hughes returns to the Yankees' rotation for the first time in four months as they face the surging Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Hughes (0-4, 9.00 ERA) has made six starts this season, most recently allowing six runs and eight hits over 3 2/3 innings of a 6-4 home loss to the Detroit Tigers on April 29. The righthander left with a stress fracture in his rib and was placed on the disabled list two days later.

Upon rehabbing, he spent time in Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he went 1-0 with a 5.90 ERA in six outings. His most recent effort came on Friday, when tossed five stellar frames while striking out 12 to lead the club to the International League championship. Still, it's hard to forget general manager Brian Cashman's reluctance to trade Hughes in a package that would've brought ace Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins to the Bronx.

Instead, the Yankees placed their hopes in young pitchers such as Ian Kennedy and Hughes that failed to deliver. Such mistakes likely will cost the club its first season without a playoff berth in 14 years.

Chicago, however, is primed to be a force in the playoff race as the season dwindles. The White Sox increased their lead in the AL Central to 2 1/2 games over the Twins with a 6-2 win in the Bronx on Tuesday.

Clayton Richard (2-4, 6.94) takes the mound for Chicago looking to snap a personal two-game losing skid. The 25-year-old lefthander is coming off a rough outing against the Toronto Blue Jays in which he surrendered five runs and five hits in four shoddy frames on September 9.