A first test for Phil

And he passed with flying colors. For the first time in Phil Hughes' pro career, the bases were loaded against him (with no outs) - a leadoff double, a walk and an error. He proceeded to get three straight outs - a shallow flyout to right center (on a curve), a three pitch swinging K (fastball), and another swinging K (fb). It was his fifth and (probably) last inning of the game, and aside from that inning, pitched near flawlessly: 5 ip, 2 hits, 0 r, 1 bb, 4 k.

8:42 Update: Hughes did pitch the sixth, and it was brilliant: 1-2-3 inning, two Ks. Now that he's up to 73 pitches, I'm calling his night over (his max for this game was 75). So his final line: 6 ip, 2 h, 0 r, 1 bb, 7 k.