Read More: yankees schedule, yankees news, Freddy Garcia (P – NYY), Phil Hughes (P – NYY), New York Yankees, New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins, Aug 19, 2011 8:10 PM EDT

(Sports Network) – Phil Hughes makes his case to stay in the New York Yankees rotation this evening when they continue a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Hughes, who could be the odd man out when Freddy Garcia returns on Saturday, has won his last two starts, but is just 3-4 on the year with a 6.55 earned run average. He beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday by holding them to a pair of runs and four hits in six innings.

“It’s hard enough to pitch a really good game when you have a clear conscience so I knew I couldn’t let anything distract me,” Hughes said.

He is 3-3 with a 4.28 ERA in seven games since returning from the disabled list in early July.

Hughes has faced the Twins three times (one start) and has yet to record a decision against them, pitching to a 3.68 ERA in those outings.

New York opened this set with a win on Thursday, as Mark Teixeira finished 2- for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and two walks, carrying the Yankees to an 8-4 win.

Nick Swisher added a two-run shot and Andruw Jones hit a mammoth solo blast for New York, which won for the sixth time in eight games to stay atop the AL East standings by a half-game over Boston.

---

---

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (UPI) — Jorge Posada belted a grand slam and drove in two more runs Saturday, powering the New York Yankees’ 9-2 rout of Tampa Bay.

Posada, who lost his starting job in the Yankees’ lineup last week, made a curtain call out of the team’s dugout Saturday after putting the game away with his bases-loaded blast in the fifth inning.

It was switch-hitter’s best offensive game in almost five years after spending the last five games on the Yankees bench. He finished the day 3-for-5 with his 10th career grand slam.

Curtis Granderson socked his 33rd homer and Phil Hughes (3-4) picked up the victory with six innings of two-run ball, striking out six.

Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Hellickson (10-8) was touched for four runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 frames.

Desmond Jennings hit a solo homer for the Rays.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi knew what the Texas Rangers were going to try to do when Julio Borbon came to the plate.

And the Yankees still couldn’t stop it from happening.

Borbon had a squeeze bunt to send home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and the Rangers went on to a 7-5 victory Saturday night after New York had come back from an early five-run deficit to tie the game.

After Mitch Moreland had a leadoff double in the sixth off Boone Logan (1-2) and Chris Davis followed with a single, Girardi went to the mound — not to make a pitching change, but to make sure his defense was ready for the play the Rangers had also used against them last season.

“Absolutely. That’s why I went to the mound, to try to prepare for it. They had to execute. It’s a gutsy call with nobody out, and they executed,” Girardi said. “There’s nothing you can do. Last year they executed a safety squeeze. This was just a squeeze.”

With Moreland running toward home on a 1-1 pitch, Borbon — who had asked manager Ron Washington for the chance to bunt in that situation — delivered for a 6-5 lead.

“We knew they were going to do something. I needed to throw strikes and get him out. He put down a perfect bunt and I charged it as best I could,” Logan said. “He was coming all the way and there was no chance at the plate. It’s frustrating. I don’t want them to give up on me.”

Arthur Rhodes (1-1), the third of five Texas pitchers, struck out the only two batters he faced. Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his sixth save in as many chances. It was his first since returning Friday from a disabled list stint for shoulder inflammation.

The Yankees tied the game at 5 when Nick Swisher led off the sixth with a 419-foot homer off Brett Tomko that ricocheted off the facade of the second deck of seats in right field.

Rangers starter Derek Holland was pitching with two outs and nobody on base in third, when everything starting coming apart for the left-hander.

Derek Jeter, playing his major league-record 2,303rd game at shortstop for the same team, doubled high off the left-field wall and Curtis Granderson walked before Mark Teixeira drove in a run with a bloop single to center. Alex Rodriguez then drew a walk to load the bases before Robinson Cano’s hit a ball that got past a diving Borbon for a triple and got the Yankees within 5-4.

Jeter has played in 2,324 games overall since his major league debut in 1995, most of those at shortstop. Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,302 games at shortstop during 21 seasons for Baltimore.

“It means you’ve been healthy for the most part and consistent long enough and good things happen,” Jeter said.

Young’s solo shot in the first barely cleared the 14-foot wall. His 21st career four-hit game pushed his AL-leading hits total to 47.

David Murphy led off the second with a ball that skimmed over the top of the 8-foot wall in right. Borbon’s triple into the right-center gap came after Moreland singled and Davis walked. Ian Kinsler’s sacrifice fly made it 5-0.

“(Colon) was just in the middle of the plate more. He didn’t have his great stuff and that’s going to happen from time to time,” Girardi said. “This is a good hitting team and if you miss in the middle, they’re going to hurt you.”

Colon gave up five runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings.

“I think it was right to take me out of the game because Texas was hitting every pitch I was throwing,” said Colon, who made his 28th career start against Texas. “Location was a problem today. The pitches were over the place.”

Holland’s shortest start of the season was done after his second consecutive leadoff walk to Jorge Posada, a .149 hitter batting eighth, to start the fourth. Holland walked five in his three-plus innings.

Notes: After four consecutive games with no players having multihit games, the Rangers had four Saturday night (Young, Murphy, Moreland, Borbon). … Cano was robbed of a hit in the second when he was thrown out by Young, who in his seventh start at second base this season went up the middle to field a short-hopper and then made a quick throw to first. … The Yankees on Sunday wrap up a stretch of 16 games in 16 days before a day off. They are 8-7 in that span.

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez swings a weighted bat during batting practice before a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez swings a weighted bat during…

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez exits the batting cage before the Yankees spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez exits the batting…

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez follows through on his first-inning, two-run, home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitvcher Kevin Correia in their spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez follows through on his…

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kevin Correia delivers in the third inning of the Pirates 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees in a spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Correia allowed three runs, including one home run, on five hits with two walks, and five strikeouts in six innings of work. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kevin Correia delivers in the…

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, left, talks to Yankees manager Joe Girardi (28) behind the batting cage before their spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, left, talks to…

New York Yankees’ Chris Dickerson, a lefty-hitting centerfielder, follows through on his second-inning double off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kevin Correia in their spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field, Saturday, March 26, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. The Yankees acquired Dickerson from the Milwaukee Brewers this week in exchange for relief pitcher Sergio Mitre. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees’ Chris Dickerson, a lefty-hitting centerfielder,…

New York Yankees starting pitcher Manuel Banuelos delivers a warm-up pitch before starting against the Pittsburgh Pirates in their spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees starting pitcher Manuel Banuelos delivers a…

New York Yankees batting coach Kevin Long, left, greets Alex Rodriguez after he hit a first-inning, two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kevin Correia in a spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees batting coach Kevin Long, left, greets Alex…

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, left, tags out Pittsburgh Pirates Andrew McCutchen stealing during the third inning of a spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, left, tags out Pittsburgh…

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, left, poses for a photograph with Mark Chaykin, right, and his son jake, guests of Yankees manager Joe Girardi, on the field during batting practice before the Yankees spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 26, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, left, poses for a…

TAMPA, Fla. — After four weeks of insisting such designations did not matter and one week of delaying an official announcement, Joe Girardi made it official Saturday afternoon: Despite his subpar 2010 season, A.J. Burnett will be the Yankees’ No. 2 starter this season. Phil Hughes, who won 18 games last year in his first full season as a starter, will be No. 3.

“That was our plan all along,” said Girardi, who had been promising to reveal his pitching rotation all week — and then delaying it each day by another day — before finally making the announcement after Saturday’s Yankees-Blue Jays game, which ended in a 5-5 tie.

“That’s what we brought A.J. here to do, bottom line,” Girardi said. “In 2009, he was very important for us, he pitched very well for us. Playoffs, World Series, you name it. He struggled last year but we believe he’s gonna be back.”

Burnett, 34, is in the third year of a five-year, $82.5 million contract, and he won 13 games for the Yankees in 2009 and a game in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but slid to a 10-15 record and 5.26 ERA last season, and was removed from the rotation for the American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins.

After a winter session with pitching coach Larry Rothschild at his home in Maryland, Burnett was having a decent spring until Friday, when he struggled in a four-inning stint, allowing four runs (two earned) and five hits, including a home run by Jose Molina. He also threw two wild pitches and hit a batter.

“It was obviously his toughest performance of the spring, but he battled,” GM Brian Cashman said Saturday. “He’s had a heck of a spring. Yesterday was really the first hiccup. I’m excited about the spring he’s had so far in spite of yesterday’s outing. He knows how important he is to us.”

And yet, all spring long, Girardi has used Hughes in the spot normally occupied by the No. 2 starter, following ace CC Sabathia in the rotation. That, Girardi said Saturday, was a happenstance caused by scheduling concerns and his and Rothschild’a desire to make sure all the starters got sufficient rest.

“We were just evaluating,” Girardi said. “We wanted to see what we saw. But this was our plan all along. We like what he’s done in spring training and he’s going to start second.”

“I don’t really care,” Burnett had said in the clubhouse Saturday morning, before the move was announced. “Either way, just give me the ball.”

Wallace Matthews covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Jorge Posada knows he’s entering spring training as the Yankees’ full-time designated hitter, but he’s still going to bring a catcher’s glove to Tampa.

Posada, speaking for the first time publicly about his new role as the Yankees’ everyday DH, said on Saturday night that he looks forward to his new DH duties. But, make no mistake, Posada expects to catch at some point in 2011.

“You know what, it is what it is,” Posada said of his new role. “I look forward to everything I do. I try to help out the team and if that’s going to help out the team and if that’s what they want then I’m OK with it.

“It’s going to be tough during the season to see tough games … behind the plate,” he added. “Obviously that’s going to happen. But other than that, if we are doing well and the team is doing well it’s going to be a little easier.”

Posada was asked how he felt about the fact that his days are numbered. The 16-year veteran cut off the question.

“I’ll catch, I’ll catch. I’ll catch this year. You know, I’ll DH and then they’re going to want me to catch one of those days,” Posada said during an appearance at the Hillside Food Outreach benefit, hosted by Bernie Williams. “… I’m keeping open minded; I would love to catch. I’m training like I always do. And if I have to catch, I’ll catch.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman informed Posada in November that he would be the team’s full-time designated hitter. Russell Martin will enter spring training as the Yankees’ primary catcher. Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine are expected to compete for a reserve role.

Cashman said earlier this week that Posada would only catch in emergency situations. The fiery veteran said on Saturday that he didn’t question Cashman’s decision back in November.

“I can’t complain. I like to catch, I always like to catch,” he said. “I’m used to catching but if they want me to be a DH to help out the team, you have to do that.”

Posada batted only .248 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 120 games during an injury-plagued 2010. He caught 83 games last season, was DH 28 games and played first base once.

Posada hit just .245 in 102 at-bats as a designated hitter but said on Saturday that his mental approach at the plate will be different because he knows he’s the full-time DH. He said switching between DH and catcher in past seasons has been a “struggle.”

The 39-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee in early November. He said Saturday night that his knee was “100 percent” healthy and indicated that he wouldn’t be limited by any pain in his knee entering spring training.

Posada, a switch-hitter, will work with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long on Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday in Miami to prepare his stroke for the final year of the four-year, $52 million contract he signed after the 2007 season.

He said that if he stays healthy, he would like to continue playing in 2012.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen this year,” Posada said. “I don’t know; I would like to keep my doors open. … If I feel good and I feel that I can do it and [a] having fun, I would love to keep going. I love playing the game and I just hope that everything stays healthy.”

Ian Begley is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com.