Hughes taking steps to get back to Stadium

Phil Hughes had a so-so second start on injury rehabilitation at Double A Trenton Friday night at New Britain, Conn. Hughes, who turned 25 Friday, threw 72 pitches over 3 1/3 innings and gave up one run, three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

The righthander, who has been disabled since April 15 due to right elbow inflammation, topped out at 93 miles per hour on his fastball and was regularly in the 90-92 range.

“It wasn’t as good as my first start, but it was a step in the right direction,” Hughes said before Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium. He was referring to his first rehab start for Class A Staten Island last Sunday in Brooklyn when he threw 61 pitches in 4 1/3 innings and was clocked in the mid-90s. “My velocity from what I gathered was pretty good, certainly a lot better than it was here, that’s for sure.”

Hughes could barely get into the 90s with his heater in his three starts and 10 1//3 innings with the Yankees two months ago, a dead-arm condition that landed him on the 60-day disabled list with a record of 0-1 and a 13.94 ERA.

The plan is for Hughes to remain with the Yankees during the homestand and throw regular bullpen sessions in preparation for his next start, likely Wednesday at Trenton. Said Hughes, “As long as my pitch count is up and where it needs to be and I’m throwing strikes and the velocity’s good, that’s all I can ask for.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Friday that Hughes would be pushed to 90 pitches in his next start but did not give a timetable for his return to the big club. “It’s in his best interest to probably get two more starts,” Cashman said.