Phil Hughes got roughed up by the Rangers in Texas on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work.
He struck out two, walked none and served up a solo home run to Adrian Beltre. Hughes has now failed to complete five innings of work in three of his first four starts, and is sporting an ugly 7.88 ERA to go along with a 1.88 WHIP and 17/6 K/BB ratio. Michael Pineda’s season-ending injury has bought Hughes a little extra rope, but he needs to show rapid improvement if he wants to hold the Yankees’ fifth rotation spot over Freddy Garcia once Andy Pettitte enters the fold next month.