CBSSports.com wire reports
Feb. 28, 2011

LAKELAND, Fla. — After almost two weeks of turmoil, Miguel Cabrera returned to where he’s most comfortable: a baseball field.

Cabrera played his first game following his arrest, going 0-for-2 with a walk as the Detroit Tigers’ designated hitter Monday in a 6-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Cabrera batted cleanup, his first appearance since his arrest on Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He is to be arraigned on March 16.

After the game, he refused to answer any non-baseball questions. Cabrera said he is looking forward to playing the field, but manager Jim Leyland said he will DH again Tuesday against Toronto, then play the field Wednesday against Houston.

“It’s kind of slow playing DH,” Cabrera said. “I really prefer playing at first. I was starting to feel normal in batting practice, but I am looking forward to playing in the field.”

Cabrera hit a sharp grounder down the third-base line in the first off CC Sabathia, but Alex Rodriquez made a backhand grab and threw out Cabrera out at first. Cabrera hit a similar ball in the third, but Rodriguez made another backhand stab and retired Cabrera at first. Cabrera drew a walk in his final at-bat and was removed for a pinch runner.

Leyland said Cabrera looked to be in spring training form. Cabrera hit .328 with 38 homers and 126 RBI last season, finishing second in AL MVP voting to Texas’ Josh Hamilton.

“It’s going to take some time to get ready,” Leyland said. “He’ll be fine.”

Cabrera was greeted warmly by fans before each at-bat.

“I heard the applause,” Cabrera said. “It was good to get the first game out of the way, but I can do better. I was thinking about seeing strikes, but I heard the fans supporting me.”

The game itself provided a likely preview of opening day on March 31, when the teams meet at Yankee Stadium.

Sabathia allowed two hits and struck out two for the Yankees, and Justin Verlander gave up two hits in two scoreless innings for the Tigers. Sabathia said he felt fine following offseason to repair a minor tear in his right knee.

“My fastball command was good, away. I still got to do some work in to righties,” he said. “Usually, it takes me a while to get it. To have it pretty good this early, I can start working on my other pitches. I felt great. My knee, no problems.”

One-time Chicago Cubs star Mark Prior pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout for New York. Prior, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2006, is trying to earn a job with the Yankees as a long reliever.

“If I’m healthy, I know I can compete at this level,” Prior said.

Detroit scored two runs each against Daniel Turpen, Robert Fish, and D.J. Mitchell in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Rick Porcello followed Verlander with two scoreless innings for the Tigers. New York took a 2-0 lead in the fifth against rookie Charlie Furbush, ending Detroit’s 22-inning scoreless streak.

With the score tied 2-2, Cale Iorg homered to give the Tigers a lead, and two batters later, Andy Dirks doubled home John Murrian. Dirks went 2-for-2 and is batting .667.

Mark Teixeira, Jorge Vasquez, and Francisco Cervelli each had two hits for the Yankees.

Notes

New York C Russell Martin (right knee) was the DH in his first spring training game. He is expects to catch Thursday or Friday. … Yankees OF Greg Golson said tests performed after he was hit in the helmet by an A.J. Burnett pitch during batting practice Sunday were negative. Golson said he never saw the ball because of bright sunshine behind the CF fence. … Tigers reliever Daniel Schlereth left in the eighth inning after pulling his left hamstring. He was helped off the field. Leyland said he didn’t know if Schlereth was upset by the pain or the frustration. He was covering first when he felt a pop.

Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, center, blows a bubble in the dugout prior to a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, center, blows a bubble in the…

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez throws out Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge at first base after fielding a grounder during the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez throws out Detroit…

New York Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia warms up before the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

New York Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia warms up before the…

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to homeplate during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to…

New York Yankees left fielder Justin Maxwell dives but misses a fly ball hit for a double by Detroit Tigers’ Jhonny Peralta during the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

New York Yankees left fielder Justin Maxwell dives but misses a fly…

Members of the Detroit Tigers congratulate each other after defeating the New York Yankees 6-2 in a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Members of the Detroit Tigers congratulate each other after…

Detroit Tigers’ Cale Iorg, right, is congratulated by teammate John Murrian (74) after hitting a home run off of New York Yankees pitcher D.J. Mitchell during the eighth inning of a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Detroit Tigers’ Cale Iorg, right, is congratulated by teammate John…

Read More: Joba Chamberlain (P – NYY), New York Yankees

The New York Yankees opened their Grapefruit League season over the weekend by splitting a pair of games with the Philadelphia Phillies. The results really are not important, and it was only the first two games of the exhibition schedule, but there were a few notable highlights.

— Joba Chamberlain pitched a quality inning on Saturday, reaching 94 miles-per-hour on the radar gun. That is a big difference from last spring when Chamberlain barely reached 90 mph in Spring Training. Let’s see if that is a sign of better things to come from Joba in 2011.

— Highly-touted youngster Dellin Betances had the Yankees buzzing Sunday after striking out the side in an inning of work.

— The Yankees would really like youngster Ivan Nova, who pitched in 10 games last season, to earn one of the open spots in their starting rotation. Nova got off to a good start Sunday with two impressive innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Curtis Granderson hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and the New York Yankees never lost their lead in a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

After Phillies starter Joe Blanton threw three hitless innings, minor league right-hander Justin De Fratus entered and walked Brett Gardner. One out later, Granderson drilled a two-run home run to left.

Jorge Vazquez also hit his second home run in as many games. He led off the ninth inning by taking a 1-2 pitch out to left.

But on an afternoon when several stars were out of both lineups, the All-Star-studded Yankees infield didn’t make the trip and Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley nursed a right knee injury, players competing for jobs made strides on both teams.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova struck out two over two perfect innings.

Nova is competing with Freddy Garcia, Sergio Mitre and Bartolo Colon for one of the final two rotations spots behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.

“I’m just paying attention to what I’m doing,” Nova said. “That’s what I’m worrying about. I know there are good guys, veteran guys. I don’t worry about it. I worry about myself.”

Nova, considered one of the frontrunners, threw 21 pitches, 14 for strikes. He struck out Ryan Howard with a curveball.

Notes: Yankees C Russell Martin, who had offseason surgery to repair a small tear in his right knee, is expected to make his spring training debut behind the plate Thursday or Friday. He is scheduled to DH on Monday. … Burnett threw his glove into his locker after a batting practice session in which the right-hander hit OF Greg Golson in the helmet with a pitch. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Golson is OK. … New York 1B Mark Teixeira said his right big toe is bruised, but not a problem, one day after being hit by a pitch thrown by Phillies LHP Cole Hamels. … New York INF Ronnie Belliard was a late scratch because of a calf injury.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Curtis Granderson hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and the New York Yankees never lost their lead in a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

After Phillies starter Joe Blanton threw three hitless innings, minor league right-hander Justin De Fratus entered and walked Brett Gardner. One out later, Granderson drilled a two-run home run to left.

Jorge Vazquez also hit his second home run in as many games. He led off the ninth inning by taking a 1-2 pitch out to left.

But on an afternoon when several stars were out of both lineups, the All-Star-studded Yankees infield didn’t make the trip and Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley nursed a right knee injury, players competing for jobs made strides on both teams.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova struck out two over two perfect innings.

—
FOR MORE NEW YORK SPORTS CLICK HERE TO VISIT ESPN NEW YORK

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Get more MLB »

Tags:

new york yankees, mlb

Cole Hamels allowed one unearned run over two innings in his first spring training start to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

The lone hit off Hamels was a two-out double in the second by Francisco Cervelli that tied it 1-1. The left-hander struck out two, walked one and hit a batter during his 33-pitch outing.

“It’s fun anytime games start,” Hamels said. “It’s a lot better than practices. Getting the hitters in there, getting the game rolling. That’s something that’s very hard to simulate. It was good.”

The Phillies have assembled a starting rotation that is being compared to some of the best in baseball history. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Hamels would be the ace on many staffs.

“I’m fortunate,” Hamels said. “You never have enough baseball knowledge. We’re always trying to learn. You have guys that have success, you’ll probably learn a little bit more.”

Yankees starter Bartolo Colon gave up one run and two hits in two innings. The right-hander threw 23 of 36 pitches for strikes.

New York reliever Joba Chamberlain, bidding for a setup role in front of eighth-inning man Rafael Soriano and closer Mariano Rivera, threw a perfect third inning. He reached 94 mph with his fastball.

“It’s a great sign for me,” Chamberlain said.

Dane Sardinha put the Phillies ahead 5-4 in the eighth with a two-run bloop single to left.

Mark Teixeira, who was hit on the top of the right big toe by Hamels in the first, hit a fifth-inning RBI triple. The first baseman expects to have a toe bruise, but added he was OK.

“I get hit all the time,” he said. “That’s part of the game.”

Teixeira played the final month last season with a broken right pinky toe, which was caused by a pitched ball.

Colon, out of the major leagues since 2009, is competing with Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre for one of the final two rotation spots behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.

“I thought it was a good first step,” Colon said through an interpreter. “I’m going to continue working hard and see what happens.”

The 37-year-old right-hander was released by the Chicago White Sox in September 2009 after going 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts. Colon went 21-8 for the Angels in 2005 and won the AL Cy Young Award, but he is 14-21 since.

The Yankees held a pregame ceremony to honor former team owner George Steinbrenner, who died last July at the age of 80. This marked the Yankees’ first spring training game at George Steinbrenner Field since his death.

Steinbrenner’s wife, Joan, and the couple’s two daughters — Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Jessica Steinbrenner — placed roses on the interlocking N.Y. behind home plate. Steinbrenner’s granddaughter, Haley Swindal, sang the national anthem.

“Since his passing last summer, the support and compassion shown to us by countless others has brought us great comfort, and today was another example of it,” the Steinbrenner family said in a statement.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner also took part. Co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner, George Steinbrenner’s oldest son, missed the event because of an illness.

Notes

Spring training instructors, including Yogi Berra, Rich “Goose” Goosage and David Wells, were introduced before the game. Reggie Jackson, who had back problems over the winter, missed the spring training opener, but he is scheduled to join the team before camp ends. … Phillies 2B Chase Utley (sore legs) didn’t play. … New York C Russell Martin (knee) is set to DH on Monday. … Yankees INF Jorge Vazquez hit a two-run homer over the batter’s eye in center field during the seventh inning.