Yanks Make it Two-For-Two To Start Spring

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Yankees won their second straight game to open up the spring, this time defeating the AL Champion Rays 5-1.

Phil Hughes started for the Yankees and he pitched two scoreless innings without giving up a hit. He also struck out two, walked one, and hit two batters.

Phil Coke also pitched two scoreless innings and picked up the win.

Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, Mark Melancon, and Jonathan Albaladejo each threw a scoreless inning. The only run the Yankees allowed came against reliever J.B. Cox in the Rays 7th.

Offensively the Yankees were led by Jorge Posada and Shelley Duncan. Posada got them on the board with a solo homer in 3rd. Two innings later he added another RBI with a ground-rule double to deep center. Duncan drove in the other three Yankees runs with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 7th.

Mark Teixeira and Xavier Nady both went 1-for-2.

Here's the box score:

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Gardner, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200
Jeter, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Nunez, E, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Teixeira, 1B	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.500
Ransom, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Rodriguez, A, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.333
Bernier, 3B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Cano, 2B	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.250
Berroa, 2B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Nady, RF	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	.500
Duncan, S, RF	1	1	1	3	0	0	0	.250
Posada, DH	2	1	2	2	0	0	0	1.000
a-Anson, PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Molina, J, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Cervelli, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Cabrera, M, CF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Curtis, CF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Totals	30	5	7	5	0	6	3
a-Grounded out for Posada in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Nady (1, Abreu, W), Posada (1, Abreu, W). HR: Posada (1, 3rd inning off Orvella, 0 on, 0 out), Duncan, S (1, 7th inning off Medlock, 2 on, 0 out). TB: Teixeira; Bernier; Berroa; Nady 2; Duncan, S 4; Posada 6. RBI: Posada 2 (2), Duncan, S 3 (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M. GIDP: Rodriguez, A. Team LOB: 1. FIELDING Outfield assists: Gardner (Ensberg at 2nd base).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes, P	2.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0.00
Coke (W, 1-0)	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Bruney (H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Marte (H, 1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Cox (H, 1)	1.0	3	1	1	0	0	0	9.00
Melancon	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Albaladejo	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

The Yankees travel to Ft. Myers tomorrow to take on the Minnesota Twins. Ian Kennedy starts for the Yankees and he will face the Twins Scott Baker. Game time is set for 1:05 p.m.