Returning home, the Yankees–sans anti-WBC propaganda–rematched with the Blue Jays, winning their second straight game despite a poor first outing from Chien-Ming Wang. Final score: 11-8.
Lineup:
Miguel Cairo SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Hideki Matsui LF
Jason Giambi 1B
Andy Phillips DH
Mitch Jones RF
Kelly Stinnett C
Marcos Vechionacci 3B
Kevin Reese CF
Subs: Eric Duncan 1B, Kevin Howard 2B, Ramiro Pena SS, Felix Escalona 3B, Ben Davis C, Wil Nieves C, Chris Prieto RF, Melky Cabrera CF, Kevin Thompson LF
Pitchers: Chien-Ming Wang, Aaron Small, Ramiro Mendoza, Scott Erickson, Ron Villone, J. Brent Cox
Big Hits: Homers by Cano (one on, 2 for 2) and Nieves (a solo shot that hit the base of the foul pole in right, 1 for 1), Doubles by Matsui (1 for 1, 2 BB), Jones (1 for 4), Thompson (1 for 2) and Duncan (1 for 4). Andy Phillips (2 for 5) picked up three RBIs.
Who Pitched Well: Ron Villone struck out two in 1 1/3 hitless innings, echoing fellow lefty Mike Myers by making up for an ugly first outing in his second appearance, J. Brent Cox pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save, Scott Erickson, alarmingly, struck out two and walked none while allowing two hits in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Who Didn’t: Chien-Ming Wang said he had his sinker working in the pen, but once he hit the mound everything was up, resulting in home runs by Troy Glaus (that’ll happen) and Erik Hinske (who you’ll recall beat Randy Johnson on a slider in that fantastic duel between Johnson and Roy Halladay last April). I caught the pitch to Glaus on Encore. It sunk, but it started at the shoulders and sunk into the zone where Glaus absolutely creamed it to dead center. It would have been in the black seats in the Stadium (Legends Field, built to the same dimensions as Yankee Stadium, has a large black screen beyond the 408-foot sign representing the black seats, Glaus’s shot hit half-way up the screen).
Nice Play: Mitch Jones broke out his canon again, nailing Aaron Hill going first to third on a single, his second outfield assist in three games.
Oopsies: Bad throws by Cairo from shortstop and Vechionacci from third.
Ouchies: Hideki Matsui played the field for the first time and reached base in all three trips to the plate. He stumbled around first base on his first-inning double, but showed no ill effects. Jason Giambi, meanwhile, left the game in the second with a cramp in his left calf and is expected to sit out today’s game as well. Gary Sheffield sat out with his sore hamstring and will also miss today’s game. Carl Pavano threw another 30 pitches off a bullpen mound, mixing fastballs and changeups, though only ten were tossed from the rubber. Octavio Dotel also threw 30 pitches from the bullpen mound, 15 of them fastballs from the rubber.
M.I.A.: Mariano Rivera did not wind up making his spring debut, the Yankees preferring to give him an extra day of rest after his Saturday bullpen session. He’ll pitch today. There are six other healthy Yankee campers who have not yet seen game action: Danny Garcia, Jason Brown, T.J. Beam, Mark Corey, Jose Veras, and, say it with me, Colter Bean, the only one of the six who should be getting a serious look this spring.
