Hughes: Step in right direction

Phil Hughes said he expects to make his next rehab start Wednesday for Double-A Trenton.

The righthander said Friday's start for Trenton -- in which he allowed one run, three hits and two walks in 31/3 innings -- wasn't as good as his previous outing for Class A Staten Island.

"But it was a step in the right direction," said Hughes, who turned 25 Friday. "My velocity from what I gathered was pretty good, certainly a lot better than it was here [during his starts for the Yankees]. So that's good."

Hughes, who has been on the disabled list since April 15 with shoulder inflammation, said he has no return date in mind. But as long as he can throw strikes and keep his pitch count and velocity up, "that's all I can ask for."

Joe Girardi said he talked to Brian Cashman Saturday about Hughes' less-than-stellar outing. "He wasn't as sharp as his last start," Girardi said. "He threw a lot of pitches in 31/3 innings. He was not hit hard but he just wasn't as sharp."

Extra bases

Girardi hasn't decided on his rotation for the three-game series against the Brewers, but with an off day this past Thursday and another Monday, he could skip Brian Gordon's turn and put him in the bullpen. Freddy Garcia would start Tuesday, followed by A.J. Burnett and CC Sabathia . . . Curtis Granderson leads the majors with 68 runs . . . Longtime trainer Gene Monahan will throw out the first pitch before the Old- Timers' Day game.