Major League Baseball

HUGHES TURNED INTO TEXAS TOAST

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:16 p.m. ET

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ARLINGTON, Texas - One of the reasons given for starting Phil Hughes in Game 2 of the ALCS was how comfortable the Yankees pitcher had been in his three other appearances at the Rangers Ballpark.

Well, forget that. Yesterday, he looked about as comfortable as a prostate exam.

The Rangers pounded Hughes, scoring seven runs on 10 hits in four innings against the 24-year-old and sending the series back to New York tied 1-1.

The Rangers jumped on Hughes immediately, showing resiliency after their heartbreaking Game 1 loss. Elvis Andrus singled off of Hughes' glove to start the game off. Andrus moved to second on a wild pitch, then stole third and home on a double steal to make it 1-0.

The Rangers kept tacking on runs on Hughes, scoring two in the second, third and fifth innings. The seven earned runs were the most Hughes has given up all season and the 10 hits tied his season-high.

Hughes was not just hit, but hit hard. Of the 10 hits by the Rangers, seven went for extra bases.

"I really didn't even give us a chance to win today," Hughes said. "That's the most disappointing thing. You try to go out there and minimize the damage and at least keep us in the game."

Hughes' outing was a disappointment after his strong ALDS outing in Game 3 against the Twins. He did not give up a run in seven innings of that game.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi flip-flopped Hughes and Andy Pettitte in this series, moving Pettitte into Monday's Game 3 and Hughes into Game 2. Girardi said there were many factors in the decision, but one was how well Hughes had pitched at this ballpark in the past. Hughes had never given up a run here before yesterday.

Hughes said he felt good in the first inning, but then lost it.

"When I went out there for the second inning, something just went wrong," he said. "It's tough to first of all figure out what it is and then make that adjustment."

With his fastball staying up and over the plate, Hughes also had trouble with his curveball. He only threw one changeup.

"He was up in the zone today," Girardi said. "Didn't have much of a curveball. And you leave the ball up in the zone, it's a dangerous club that we talked about, and they hurt him."

Starts & stomps

CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes have struggled in their first two starts against the Rangers. Here?s a look at their numbers:

CC SABATHIA

IP H R ER BB SO ERA

4.0 6 5 5 4 3 11.25

PHIL HUGHES

IP H R ER BB SO ERA

4.0 10 7 7 3 3 15.75

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