If you weren’t impressed by Phil Hughes yesterday, wait and see what happens next time. The expectations may be high for the 21-year-old, but Joe Torre said he thinks his rookie right-hander will get better fast.

Hughes faded and was yanked with two out in a four-run fifth inning, which means he didn’t get a decision in the 16-8 victory over Kansas City. It was his first start back from left hamstring and left ankle injuries, which had sidelined him since May 1, and Torre said he thought he simply got tired.

“He’s a very bright kid, and I have a feeling the next start is going to be a whole lot better,” Torre said. “He started out real well, but I think it just eventually got to him.”

Hughes gave up a two-run homer in the fifth to David DeJesus, the first he had surrendered this season in the majors or minors, a span of 522/3 innings.

“It seemed like I left a couple pitches up,” Hughes said. “I really couldn’t feel myself tiring. In the fifth inning, everything was up.”

Torre said he thought the emotion of a sellout crowd, Alex Rodriguez‘s 500th homer and the chance to notch a victory simply caught up to Hughes. Jorge Posada also thought he tired but had encouraging words, too.

“He’s good,” Posada said. “He throws strikes, he goes after the hitters. I think we’re going to see a lot of him.”

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Wilson Betemit made his first career start at first base after a crash course on Friday and early yesterday from former defensive whiz Don Mattingly.

Betemit was in the lineup because he was previously 2-for-2 with two homers lifetime off Kansas City righty Kyle Davies, and he went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. He was removed in the seventh for defense after a two-run single in the sixth.

With two outs in the sixth, Betemit couldn’t keep his right foot on the bag on Rodriguez’s wide throw, but the third baseman’s error didn’t end up hurting the Yanks.

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According to the Elias Sports Bureau, yesterday was the first time since 1942 that six Yankees recorded three or more hits. Bobby Abreu has 11 hits in his last 19 at-bats. Robinson Cano tied his career-high with four hits and is batting .482 (40-for-83) with five homers, 22 runs and 23 RBIs in his last 21 games. Derek Jeter, Rodriguez, Betemit and Hideki Matsui were the others with three or more hits.

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Torre said Matsui might not play a lot in the outfield in Toronto this week. The Yankees manager wants to rest Matsui on the turf. . . . Joba Chamberlain was slated to throw two innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last night. Jason Giambi also was scheduled to play for SWB. . . . The Yankees optioned Sean Henn and designated Colter Bean for assignment before activating Hughes from the 60-day disabled list.