Pavano, Hughes hit town

Talk about getting some pitching help.

New York Yankees pitchers Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are scheduled to be Charleston RiverDogs at least for a day when they come to town for a rehabiliation assignment.

Both are scheduled to pitch in today's 7 p.m. game against the Asheville Tourists at Riley Park. How many innings either will go is unknown.

It is the first time since the Yankees became affiliated with the RiverDogs in 2005 that New York has sent players to Charleston for a rehab assignment. Normally, the team has opted to send players to nearby affiliates Trenton or Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The other option has been to advanced Class A Tampa, where the Yankees keep one of their bases of operation.

They were originally slated to make appearances in Tampa with the Gulf Coast League Yankees on Monday and today, but weather was bad enough to wash out both dates.

Hughes,the 23rd overall pick in the 2004 draft, earned his first professional victory with the RiverDogs when he opened the 2005 season in Charleston.

He put together a 7-1 record in 12 starts before he was promoted to Tampa at midseason. While a RiverDog, he had a 1.97 ERA and 72 strikeouts and gave up only 46 hits and 16 walks in 68 2/3 innings.

He made his major league debut in 2007 and was 5-3 in 13 starts. He had thrown 6 1/3 hitless innings against Texas in May of that year when he had to leave the game with a strained left hamstring. His season was interrupted by a series of setbacks, but he returned to finish the year strong.

This year, Hughes is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA and has been on the disabled list since April 30 with a fractured rib.

Pavano, 32, is in the final year of a four-year, $39.95 million contract in which he has spent in inordinate amount of time on the DL. He did start for the Yankees on opening day last season and earned five wins, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in June and he has been recovering from that ever since.

Reach Bill Henley at bhenley@postandcourier.com or 937-5595.