Hughes moving on from rocky outing

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Twins right-hander Phil Hughes struggled through his toughest outing of the spring in Wednesday's 8-4 loss against the Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Hughes went just two innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits, including two home runs. He struck out two and did not walk a batter in a 57-pitch outing (37 strikes).
"You don't want to drive three hours and do that, but it is what it is," said Hughes of the long bus ride. "My changeup was real flat. Fastball missed out over the plate. It wasn't a great showing."
It was rather a surprising one given he was coming off his best outing of the Grapefruit League season. Hughes threw five shutout innings against Tampa Bay on Friday, allowing just two hits while striking out four and walking one.

"I felt like my stuff was right where I wanted it to be, and then today everything kind of flattened out," he said. "Obviously the results showed that. But you learn with every outing, good, bad, or indifferent."
Hughes survived a nightmarish 31-pitch first inning in which he gave up four runs on six hits, including both home runs. His first pitch was belted over the right-field fence by Astros leadoff hitter George Springer for his first Grapefruit League homer.

It was definitely a sign of things to come. After striking out the next batter, Hughes took a line drive off the right thigh from Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.
"It stung, but I knew it was a flesh wound so I had to shake it off," Hughes said.
Two batters later, Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel blasted a three-run homer.

The second inning didn't start out any better. Twins center fielder J.B. Shuck, a 2008 sixth-round pick of the Astros, dropped a long fly ball resulting in a three-base error that opened the door for another long inning.
Hughes gave up two runs on three hits before retiring the Astros on fly balls to each outfield position.
"As I was getting into trouble I felt like I was overthrowing a bit," Hughes said. "I have to learn how to just back off in those situations. Less is more, I guess, is a good thing to take from that."
The Twins have yet to decide whether Hughes will stay back in Florida for the start of the regular season or pitch in a simulated game in Minneapolis. Hughes isn't scheduled to pitch until the Twins' second series in Chicago against the White Sox.
"I don't really care, either way," Hughes said. "I would say as of right now, it's probably leaning towards me staying down here."