Hughes Hope To Continue His Good Pitching

Scoring 10 runs last night, the most they've scored in well over a month, the Yankees were able to explode offensively in what hopes to be a turning point in the Yankees season.  Robinson Cano exploded for two homeruns on a three-hit night. Cano is now 10-for-17 at the plate through four games of the team's seven-game trip, with three home runs and five RBIs.

Tonight's lineup, 8:05 @ Target Field:

Gardner CF
Ichiro RF
Cano 2B
Hafner DH
Almonte LF
Overbay 1B
Stewart C
Adams 3B
Gonzalez SS

Hughes P

Pitching Preview:

Phil Hughes was essentially pitching for his starting job in his last outing, and he turned in a start that would give him another chance. Hughes tossed eight innings of two-run ball against the Rangers on Thursday, but still went home with the loss after the Yankees failed to back him up with their bats.

"Every time I take the ball, I just clear my head and go out there and do the best job I possibly can," Hughes said on Thursday. "I really don't let talk and things like that creep into my head, so I guess it takes some experience and going through it to handle that stuff better. It's really not an issue."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will counter with right-hander Samuel Deduno, who's pitching very lately, having allowed two earned runs or less in five of his past six starts.

Deduno struggled with his command in his few few starts, but has since figured things out. After issuing 10 free passes in his first four starts this season, he has walked just four batters over his past three outings.

"I think commanding his fastball better," Gardenhire said. "We all know he can throw the breaking ball, and that's what he'd always go to when he'd get behind because he couldn't always get his fastball."

Yankee Notes:

* Mark Teixeira tweeted out today that  his wrist surgery was a success and that his doctor said things couldn't have went any better for the Gold Glove first baseman. Teixeira will now finish the rest of the season on the disabled list, while he recovers for at least the next 5-6 months.

* Alex Rodriguez will play for the Single-A Charleston River Dogs tonight in South Carolina. A-Rod said during his pre-game press conference that he'll play two games for the River Dogs, then have workout day, then join the Single-A Tampa Yankees in Lakeland. A-Rod will play at least three innings tonight at third base, batting second and will try to get in two at-bats.

"I've got to tell you, I'm really, really excited," Rodriguez said. "This probably has to be the hardest injury I've tried to overcome. It has to be the longest process, that's for sure.

"I'm as curious as you guys are to see how I'm going to react. It's been a while since I've been in competition. It will be baby steps."

Have a good night. Thanks for reading, and follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter