(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |  | R | H | E |
NY Yankees | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 1 | |
Detroit | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 2 |
WP: G. Duff (1-0)
LP: P. Dumatrait (0-1)
SV: R. Pope (1)
Make it two rough outings in two tries for Joba Chamberlain, as he got knocked around for 6 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in just 2.1 innings pitched. He threw 48 pitches today, with just 27 finding the strike zone. Things started off well for Joba, who was able to get through the first two innings allowing just a walk and a single, but things quickly turned sour for him in the third. By the time the smoke had cleared, 6 runs had scored, only one out was on the board, and Joba was heading for the showers. The big blow of the inning, which also knocked Joba out of the game, was a grand slam home run off the bat of Gerald Laird.
Here's some quotes from Joba, and later Hughes and Girardi, via Bryan Hoch:
Joe Girardi said earlier today that this turn through the order was the last tuneup for Joba, Hughes, and the rest of the quintet battling for that fifth starters spot. After the game he tried to make light of the rough third inning and said, "You can't get so caught up in stats. It's not fair to them if we ask them to work on certain things and then everyone immediately looks at the stats. There are things we ask guys to do in Spring Training, and we've asked each of these guys to work on them each time out." Obviously he's not going to win any jobs by pitching like he has, but for now I'm going to look at this the way Girardi is, and see what unfolds over the course of the rest of spring training."I just got a little tired," Chamberlain said. "I made the adjustments from the first inning to the second inning on my slider, which was good. The delivery wasn't great in the first inning, but then we worked things out, and I wasn't leaving sliders and some cement mixers out there like before.
"Obviously, it's Spring Training and you're going to look at what happened, but it's about working on the little things and getting them better."
...
"There's no panic button, but sure, there's definitely a sense of urgency," Chamberlain said. "It matters every time I go out how I do, but I'm going to take every negative and turn it in to a positive. But I can't worry about what anybody else did. I have to worry about getting better and concentrating on what I have to do well to help the team."
Speaking of other pitchers battling for that fifth spot, Phil Hughes came on in relief of Joba and pitched pretty well. In 2.2 innings he allowed a run on 3 hits, struck out 2, and did not walk a batter. The run came on a solo homer by Ryan Raburn in the bottom of the fourth. He threw 33 pitches on the day, 22 of them for strikes, and 10 of them were changeups, the pitch he's been working on all spring.
"I have to get the changeup down," Hughes said. "I'm looking to have better results in the season, but now, I have to work on things gradually. I feel like there's a proper pitch for every scenario. I want to it to be successful during the season and have it as a useful pitch."Joe Girardi seemed more pleased:
"His changeup was better [than in his last appearance]," Girardi said. "I thought he threw it well."If these previous outings do matter, I have to believe that neither Hughes or Chamberlain are in the lead for that fifth spot. After all, Alfredo Aceves has been the Yankees best pitcher this spring. But if we are to take Girardi at his word, then I have to believe that as of now everyone has a clean slate.
Jason Hirsh, Grant Duff, and Ryan Pope each threw a scoreless inning in relief, and Andrew Brackman allowed a run on two hits in his inning of work.
Offensively it was a good day for the Bombers, who jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, and then would eventually come back from a 7-3 deficit to win 9-8. Mark Teixeira had a big day, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. The homer came off former teammate Phil Coke, who apparently is still prone to the long ball.
Curtis Granderson also had a big day against his former teammates, picking up two hits, including an RBI single in the second. He also made a spectacular play in the field, robbing Miguel Cabrera of an extra base hit. Plus, the Tigers fans in Lakeland welcomed him with open arms. It was an all around good day for Curtis.
The biggest hit of the day came in the top of the ninth with the Yankees down a run, when Greg Golson smashed 1-0 pitch for a two-run homer to give the Yankees a 9-8 lead. It would prove to be the game winner.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Granderson, CF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| Golson, CF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| Johnson, N, DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .375 |
| 1-Curtis, PR-DH | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .231 |
| 2-Miranda, PR-1B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .250 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .583 |
| Russo, 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .364 |
| Thames, RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .083 |
| Hoffmann, RF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .125 |
| Gardner, LF | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .143 |
| Winfree, LF | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 |
| Rivera, Mi, C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .100 |
| Romine, Au, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .143 |
| Vazquez, Jo, 3B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 |
| Nunez, E, 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .357 |
| Pena, R, SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .231 |
| Corona, SS | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| Totals | 42 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | |
1-Ran for Johnson, N in the 4th. 2-Ran for Teixeira in the 6th. | ||||||||
BATTING 2B: Vazquez, Jo (2, Galarraga), Rivera, Mi (1, Miner), Hoffmann (1, Schlereth). HR: Teixeira (1, 3rd inning off Coke, 0 on, 0 out), Golson (1, 9th inning off Dumatrait, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson 2; Golson 4; Curtis; Teixeira 5; Hoffmann 2; Gardner; Winfree 2; Rivera, Mi 2; Vazquez, Jo 2; Corona 2. RBI: Vazquez, Jo 2 (3), Granderson (1), Teixeira (1), Rivera, Mi (1), Winfree (2), Curtis (4), Golson 2 (3). 2-out RBI: Granderson; Curtis. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Thames; Teixeira 2; Miranda 2; Russo. GIDP: Gardner. Team RISP: 3-for-12. Team LOB: 13. BASERUNNING SB: Curtis (1, 2nd base off Dumatrait/Rabelo). FIELDING E: Hoffmann (1, fielding). DP: 2 (Russo-Corona-Miranda, Miranda-Corona-Duff). | ||||||||
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Tomorrow's Game
The Yankees return to Tampa tomorrow to take on Melky Cabrera and the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. A.J. Burnett will start for the Yankees, with Jair Jurrjens getting the ball for Atlanta. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game can be seen on YES.
