Yanks Sweep Cubs... Next Stop: Opening Day

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
CHC	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	8	2
NYY	0	1	4	3	0	0	0	2	X		10	11	0

The ball sure does seems to carry in our new home, doesn't it? The Yankees blasted four more homers today, raising their two-day total at the new stadium to seven.

Mark Teixeira finished off his fantastic spring with two homers, a solo shot in the third, and a three-run shot in the fourth. In 60 at-bats this spring Tex hit .433/.485/.800 with 5 HR and 15 RBI. Derek Jeter homered, a three-run opposite field shot in the third that just got over the wall in right. Shelley Duncan also homered, a solo blast in the eighth.

Robinson Cano singled and drove in a run, and Melky Cabrera went 1-for-2 with an RBI double that capped off the Yankees scoring for the day.

In the two games against the Cubs the Yankees scored 17 runs and pounded out 24 hits, 12 of which were extra base hits.

Andy Pettitte started the game for the Yankees and pitched well. He pitched four innings, allowing a run on six hits and a walk, and struck out two. Pettitte threw 54 pitches, 38 for strikes. He finished the spring going 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA, striking out 12 and walking two in 15.1 innings pitched. And on top of that his shoulder hasn't bothered him either.

A.J. Burnett came on in relief to pitch four innings of his own. He was even more impressive as he allowed just two hits, walked one, and struck out six. He threw 59 pitches, 39 for strikes.

Brian Bruney and Phil Coke pitched the final inning. Bruney struck out the two batters he faced, and Coke struck out the only batter he faced.

Heading into Monday's opening day matchup with the Baltimore Orioles the Yankees have won nine in a row, and 18 of their last 20. They finished the spring training schedule with a 24-10-1 record, and according to Peter Abraham that's their highest win total and winning percentage (.706) since "at least 1961." I know it was just spring, but it's good to see.

For all the Yankees spring training stats go here.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	3	1	1	3	0	1	1	.389
a-Cabrera, M, PH-CF	2	0	1	1	0	0	3	.349
Damon, LF	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	.262
Swisher, RF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.222
Teixeira, 1B	3	2	2	4	0	0	0	.433
Pena, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.277
Matsui, DH	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	.229
b-Cash, PH-DH	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.286
Posada, C	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.255
Molina, J, C	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.255
Cano, 2B	3	0	1	1	0	0	2	.351
Berroa, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.371
Nady, RF	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	.328
Bernier, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.259
Ransom, 3B	1	2	1	0	2	0	0	.280
Duncan, S, 1B	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	.343
Gardner, CF	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	.379
Rodriguez, J, LF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.333
Totals	34	10	11	10	6	5	12
a-Flied out for Jeter in the 5th. b-Flied out for Matsui in the 6th.
BATTING 2B: Ransom (4, Harden), Rodriguez, J (1, Vizcaino), Cabrera, M (5, Vizcaino). HR: Jeter (1, 3rd inning off Harden, 2 on, 0 out), Teixeira 2 (5, 3rd inning off Harden, 0 on, 1 out; 4th inning off Harden, 2 on, 2 out), Duncan, S (3, 8th inning off Vizcaino, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 4; Cabrera, M 2; Teixeira 8; Cano; Nady 2; Ransom 2; Duncan, S 4; Gardner; Rodriguez, J 2. RBI: Cano (11), Jeter 3 (7), Teixeira 4 (15), Duncan, S (10), Cabrera, M (13). 2-out RBI: Teixeira 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M 2; Cash. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Ransom (5, 3rd base off Harden/Hill, K). CS: Cano (1, 2nd base by Harden/Hill, K).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (W, 3-0)	4.0	6	1	1	1	2	1	1.17
Burnett (H, 1)	4.0	2	0	0	1	6	0	3.09
Bruney	0.2	0	0	0	0	2	0	5.40
Coke	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.29

Now the real games begin as the Yankees head to Camden Yards to open the 2009 season with a three-game series against the Orioles. Opening Day is Monday, with CC Sabathia getting the ball in his regular season Yankees debut. Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will start for the O's. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m., and the game can be seen on YES and heard on WCBS 880.