Behind their last B-squad line-up of the spring, the Yankees beat the Tigers on the road 4-2
Lineup:
Johnny Damon CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Bernie Williams RF
Jorge Posada DH
Andy Phillips 1B
Russ Johnson 3B
Bubba Crosby LF
Felix Escalona SS
Keith McDonald C
Subs: Damian Rolls 3B, Wil Nieves C, Rudy Guillen RF, Mitch Jones LF
Pitchers: Jeffrey Karstens, Scott Erickson, Ron Villone, Kyle Farnsworth, Matt Childers
Big Hits: Doubles by Russ Johnson (1 for 2 with two walks) and Felix Escalona (1 for 4). Andy Phillips was 2 for 3 with a walk, scoring twice.
Who Pitched Well?: Jeffrey Karstens retired the last ten batters he faced, allowing just two runs on a walk and two hits in five innings, striking out two. Ron Villone retired the only two batters he faced to finish the seventh inning for Scott Erickson. Kyle Farnsworth pitched around a Delmon Young double for a scoreless eighth. Matt Childers kept his scorless spring intact despite a hit and a walk in the ninth.
Oopsies: A fielding error by Felix Escalona
Ouchies: Johnny Damon said, “I’m as close to 100 percent healthy as I can be.” (AP). Jorge Posada (1 for 2, 2 walks) will catch tomorrow’s game and will indeed be behind the plate for Randy Johnson in the season opener despite catching just seven of the Big Unit’s innings to Stinnett’s 22 1/3, largely due to illness and injury.
How’d Randy Do Anyway?: Pitching against single-A Phillies with Torre and Guidry in attendance: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 K. If nothing else, I’m sure it was good for Johnson to pitch in relative obscurity while all the flack over his situation with his baby’s momma dies down.
Roster News: Scott Proctor has officially made the opening day roster, filling Aaron Small’s swing man spot at the back of the bullpen. His spring line: 6 G, 2 GS, 17 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 HR, 7 BB, 14 K, 1.06 ERA, 1-1. With Proctor on the 25-man roster, there is just one spot left which could go to either a seventh reliever or a fifth bench player. That is unless Jaret Wright is put on the 15-day DL since he won’t need to start until April 15, in which case the Yanks will have room for both a bench player and another reliever.
Catcher Keith McDonald, meanwhile, was reassigned to minor league camp after going 0 for 3 in yesterday’s game.
