Yankees News and Notes on a Wednesday night

Here are some Yankees News and Notes from a Wednesday night with some help from the Lohud Yankees Blog. The Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays tonight with a seventh inning rally 5-3. Phil Hughes pitched seven innings and threw 98 pitches. He gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out seven batters. Mariano Rivera threw a perfect inning and Boone Logan gave up a hit but struck out the side in his one inning of work. Hughes said he hasn't been happy with his cutter and asked Larry Rothschild to come up with a new grip for it. Hughes said it is more of a slider now but he will still call it the cutter. He said he threw that pitch about 25-30 times tonight. Curtis Granderson became the fourth Yankee to hurt his oblique this spring. The others told him the worst day is the day after the injury. He felt pretty good today and took that as a good sign. He said he can feel something still isn't right but normal movements are fine. He may end up going on the DL and finishing out the spring schedule with the minor leaguers who play until April 3rd. The Yankees may want to do that so they can carry an extra outfielder. They will see what happens in the next few days before they decide on that. Speaking of outfielders Nick Swisher fould a ball off of his foot and had to come out of the game. There were no X-rays and manager Joe Girardi said he hopes it is just day-to-day. The Yankees optioned Melky Mesa, Jorge Vazquez, Greg Golson, Jose Gil, Jordan Parraz, Brandon Laird and Kevin Russo to minor league camp today. The Yankees also send Ryan Pope, Steve Garrison and Eric Wordkemper to minor league camp after the game. Golson is being sent down so he can get more at-bats just in case Granderson does go on the DL and Golson is a guy they decide to bring North. Freddy Garcia will pitch at the minor league complex tomorrow with Jesus Montero catching him. Austin Romine caught A.J. Burnett at the minor league complex today. Alex Rodriguez had his 13 game hitting streak come to an end on Monday and his RBI streak tonight but he still went 2-4. He has been incredible this spring and really looks primed for another MVP type year. Derek Jeter has a four game hitting streak and has only struck out once since March 6th. It looks like the Yankees lineup tonight with Jeter first and Gardner ninth could be the lineup they use against lefties and then have Gardner first and Jeter second for righty starters. Joe Girardi said "It's not unusual to have one lineup for left-handers and one for right-handers. He said sometimes guys move up or you drop them down a little bit." The Yankees will be off tomorrow before playing Friday night at home against Houston and then Saturday at home, they will play their final road game on Monday in Fort Myers against the Twins and their final grapefruit league game on Tuesday before heading to the Bronx on Wednesday. They will open the season on Thursday afternoon March 31st against the Detroit Tigers. C.C. Sabathia will face Justin Verlander in a classic pitching duel.