S.T. Game 24. Yanks outslug Pirates, 11-9

Melky Mesa had a grand slam, and Kevin Youklis homered while going went 2-3 with 3 RBI as the Yanks outslugged the Pirates today, 11-9.

Eduardo Nunez had 2 hits and 2 SB, Brennan Boesch 2 hits, a SB and an RBI, and Mesa also had a SB as did Thomas Neal.

Ivan Nova tossed 3 scoreless innings before losing his effectiveness. He went 5, 4 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 4 K. David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning.

Branden Pinder gave up 1 r in 1 IP, Matt Tracy 4 R in an inning of work and Chase Whitley pitched a scoreless inning.

Earlier in the day, the Yanks released Matt Diaz. It’s looking like Clay Rapada may not make the Opening Day Roster (shoulder bursitis) but that doesn’t mean (per LOHUD) that Girardi would automatically take a lefty like Nuno. Instead it could be another righty like Jim Miller, Chase Whitley or Shawn Kelley.

The way Dan Johnson is going, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is released soon.

S.T. Game 14. Yanks lose 6-1

Adam Warren gave up four runs in four innings of work as the Yanks lost to Miami today to drop their spring training record to 3-11.

Chase Whitley gave up two runs in one inning of work. Branden Pinder, Mark Montgomery and Shawn Kelley each pitched a scoreless inning.

The Yanks only got five hits. Melky Mesa had two of them, and the Yanks’ only run in the 6-1 loss came via a Thomas Neal double.

Nuno (pitching for D.R) impresses again as Yanks lose 8-2 to D.R.

There are few times that when a member of the opposition does well, it’s a good thing for YOUR team.

Today was one of those rare times. The Yanks lost 8-2 to the Dominican Republic WBC team today, but a couple of players playing for that D.R. team were Yankees.

Robbie Cano played for the D.R. team, and went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

More importantly, Vidal Nuno continued his remarkable ascent. The 25-year-old lefty, who came out of nowhere to have a good year at AA Trenton last year, started for the D.R. team, and threw four scoreless, hitless innings against the Yanks. He is sure making a name for himself to possibly be one of the first (if not the first) pitcher called up if the Yanks need a starter or long man in the mid-season (if he continues to do this at AAA).

Besides giving up no hits or runs in his four innings of work, Nuno walked one and struck out four.

In order for the Dominican team not to burn arms before the World Baseball Classic, the Yanks “loaned” some arms to the D.R. team today. Nuno was one of them.

Another was Juan Cedeno, who threw a scoreless inning. Another was Josh Spence who also threw a scoreless inning.

As for Nuno, in 9 innings this spring, he’s given up 1 R on 2 hits, 3 walks and 13 K. If that doesn’t impress the coaches, what will?

As for the Yankees team, they only got two hits. Zoilo Almonte accounted for their two runs with a HR. Dan Johnson had trouble at third, making two errors.

Hiroki Kuroda started and did well, 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K. Cody Eppley gave up a run in 1 IP. Clay Rapada only lasted 1/3 IP, giving up a run. Jim Miller gave up 3 runs in 1 1/3 IP. Tom Kahnle gave up an unearned run in 1 1/3. Preston Claiborne gave up an unearned run in 1 IP, and Chase Whitley gave up a run in his inning of work.

But good work today by the still surprising Nuno along with Kuroda.

S.T. Game 10. Warren, Ramirez solid in Yanks’ 5-2 win

The Yanks took advantage of two errors by Boston 3B Drew Sutton in the same inning and prospects Adam Warren and Jose Ramirez pitched three solid innings each in a 5-2 spring training win over Boston today.

The win ups the Yanks S.T. record to 3-7.

Warren gave up just one run (a Mike Napoli HR) in three innings of work, while Ramirez tossed three shutout innings.

Brett Gardner continued his hot spring with another hit.

With one out in the sixth, Corban Joseph singled, and Bobby Wilson  (who was PR for) reached on the first of Sutton’s errors. After a WP, Gardner walked, and he was PR for. Eduardo Nunez singled in a run and another scored when Jayson Nix bounced into a force out. Sutton made his second error of the inning on a ball hit my Juan Rivera to put the Yanks up 3-1.

Doubles by Jose Pirela and J.R. Murphy in the 8th made it 4-1, and OF Thomas Neal, trying to make the team as a righty-hitting OF, hit a HR in the 9th to make it 5-1.

The Yanks prospects got a bit sloppy again late in the game as Rob Segedin and Addison Maruszak made errors. For Maruszak, that’s 3 errors this spring.

Chase Whitley pitched a scoreless inning, Preston Claiborne (1/3) and Josh Spence (2/3) combined for a scoreless inning, and Kelvin Perez gave up a run in his inning of work. Perez hurt himself by throwing two wild pitches. As I wrote earlier in the week, some youngsters need to relax and tighten up their play a bit.

But a very good day for Warren and Ramirez, Gardner is at .563 for the spring, Jose Pirela at .556, J.R. Murphy at .500 and Tyler Austin at .571.

Ichiro Suzuki escaped injury when he was involved in a car accident on Saturday. His car was totalled.

Yanks split squad, but lose both games

The Yanks split the squad today, but lost both games, dropping their spring record to 1-6. It’s worth noting that we haven’t seen CC, Kuroda, Hughes, Nova, Pettitte, Jeter or Rivera yet.

In the road game, the Yanks lost to Houston 7-6. Some good points about the game came from a couple of minor leaguers eager to win the Granderson job while he is out. Zoilo Almonte went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Melky Mesa was 2 for 3 with a 3-run HR. Top prospect Tyler Austin had a triple and scored a run. Matt Diaz went 1 for 3 and drove in a run. In this, and the other game, every candidate for that LF job that Granderson vacated with his injury did well. Even Adonis Garcia had a hit and an RBI in this game.

Brett Marshall started this game. He is probably AAA bound but did a good job, impressing if he needs to be a mid-season call-up. The 22 year old righty was 13-7, 3.52 in AA last year. He pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 3. Dellin Betances, the former top prospect who slipped badly last year, had a scoreless inning and K’d 2, but also showed the wildness that has set him back, walking two. Mikey O’Brien gave up 3 R in 1 1/3 and Shane Greene gave up 4 in only 1/3 IP which led to the loss. Shaeffer Hall and Kelvin Perez each pitched a scoreless inning.

In the home part of the split squad, the Yanks lost 1-0 to Toronto. Dave Phelps, bidding for a starter’s job (esp. since Hughes may not be ready come Opening Day), pitched 3 scoreless innings. David Aardsma pitched a scoreless inning. The Yanks are counting on him, as well as Joba, to fill the 6/7 inning role. Branden Pinder pitched a scoreless inning as did Clay Rapada. Chase Whitley gave up the game’s only run in his inning and a third. Juan Cedeno 2/3 scoreless. Jim Miller a scoreless inning.

The Yanks didn’t score in this game, but Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki continued their hot springs so far by each going 1 for 3. Ronnier Mustelier, in the battle for Granderson’s position, went 1 for 1. Juan Rivera, also fighting for an OF spot, was 2 for 2.

Overall, today was a better day than yesterday, which featured sloppy play. There was some impressive pitching, and the OF candidates all did well.

Now (1-6) to start winning some of these games.

S.T. Game 1. Cano, Almonte HRs spark 8-3 Yankees win.

Robinson Cano and Zoilo Almonte each homered, and David Phelps pitched two scoreless innings as the Yankees beat the Braves 8-3 in their spring training opener.

Almonte is a 23 year old switch-hitter who had a good camp last year. He is expected to begin this season at AAA. In AA last year he hit .277-21-70 in 106 games, stealing 15 bases in the process. His BB/K ratio needs some work, 25/103.

Almonte also had an outfield assist in the game.

2B Jose Pirela, who replaced Cano, went 2 for 2 with an RBI. Pirela, a 23 yr. old, righty-hitting 2B, hit .293-8-33, 9 SB in 82 games at AA Trenton last year.

In the competition for righty-hitting OF (and we can’t count out the switch-hitting Almonte), Juan Rivera DH’d today, going 1 for 2 with a walk, while Matt Diaz went 0 for 3 as the left fielder.

In the catching competition, Francisco Cervelli started and went 0 for 2 with a walk while Austin Romine went 1 for 2 and drove in 2 runs. Cervelli did throw out a runner attempting to steal.

Phelps, battling Ivan Nova for the 5 spot in the rotation, pitched 2 innings, giving up 0 runs on 3 hits. He didn’t walk or strike out anyone.

Brett Marshall gave up a run in 2 IP, Nik Turley pitched a scoreless inning, Mikey O’Brien gave up 2 runs in his inning of work, and Kelvin Perez, Brandon Pinder and Chase Whitley each pitched a scoreless inning.

The Yanks will open the home part of their exhibition season tomorrow. YES will have the game, and it’ll be broadcast on WCBS 880 AM radio as well.

The minors today. A-Rod’s rehab.

AAA: SWB lost 2-0 today, getting just four hits in the process. Chase Whitley, 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H.

AA: 3-2 win for Trenton. Craig Heyer 1 R, 5 IP. CF Adonis Garcia 4 for 4, 1 rbi, 3 doubles.

High A: Tampa lost 8-1. A-Rod’s rehab: 0 for 4, 2 K. So far, 0 for 7, 4 K. Guess he needs his timing back. Tampa got just 3 hits.

Low A: 8-2 win for Charleston. Casey McGehee, sent here for a short time until rosters expand, 2 doubles, 3 RBI.

The minors today. Big night at AA for Zoilo Almonte.

AAA: 5-4 win for SWB (Empire State) over the PawSox (Daniel Bard gave up 3 unearned runs for the PawSox—AAA team for Boston). Justin Thomas started 4 R in 5 IP (3.75). Chase Whitley 2 scoreless for the win (9-5, 3.62) and Ryota Igarashi (he of the 18.00 MLB ERA this year) with a 2-inning scoreless save. 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI for CF Melky Mesa. I’m a little worried about SS Eduardo Nunez. 5th error of the season tonight, and only hitting .202. C Austin Romine is at .211 since being brought up to AAA after his rehab. I won’t go too much into detail, but there are some guys (and name guys too) whose B.A.’s aren’t that impressive.

AA: Trenton wins a slugfest, 14-12. Brett Marshall (13-5, 3.12) 5 R in 5 1/3. RF Zoilo Almonte, 3 h, triple, 2 HR, 6 RBI. C J.R. Murphy 3 h, 2 doubles, 3 RBI. 2 h, Hr, 2 rbi for 3B Kevin Mahoney.

High A: 4-2 win for Tampa. Jose Ramirez 1 R, 3 h in 5 IP w/8K. (6-6, 3.49). RF Tyler Austin (playing RF and 1B lately) 3 h, double, rbi.

Low A: 3-1 win for Charleston. Scottie Allen 1 R, 2 H in 5 IP (4-7, 4.50). 1B Saxon Butler solo hr.

The minors today. Joseph stars at AAA.

AAA: SWB split a DH (both 7-inning games, as is the norm when the minors play doubleheaders).

Game 1: A 3-1 loss. Adam Warren 3 R in 6 IP (6-8, 3.77).  Remember a prospect the Yanks had named Christian Garcia? He pitched two scoreless innings and got the save for Syracuse. SWB only managed four hits in this game, solo HR 2b Corban Joseph (.254-9-32).

Game 2: 1-0 win for SWB (Empire State, if you so wish). Chase Whitley (4), Manny Delcarmen (2) and Juan Cedeno (1) on the combined shutout. SWB only got five hits in this one, and once again, the only run was a Corban Joseph (DH this game) HR (.256-10-33).

AA: 8-3 loss, a lousy outing for Dellin Betances, 8 R in 4 IP (3-2, 5.36 at AA after being lousy at AAA). Zoilo Almonte double, HR, 3 RBI (RF, .277-18-60). 3B Dave Adams 2 hits (.317).

High A: 3-2 loss for Tampa. Nik Turley 3 R in 5 IP (8-4, 2.83). Tampa lost despite giving up just two hits. Turley walked six.

Low A: No games. Charleston is 22-26, 7 back in the season’s second half (Southern Division). They were 39-28, 6 1/2 back in the first half.

The minors today. Banuelos shut down.

The Yanks have shut down 21 year old LHP Manny Banuelos for the rest of the season. Banuelos has been on the DL since Mid-May with an elbow problem that should not require surgery. The Yanks are hoping he can pitch in winter ball and then be ok in spring training. It’s been a wasted year for Banuelos, 0-2, 4.50 in 24 IP. Expect him to be at AAA in 2013 and to be “babied” a bit to protect that elbow.

AAA: 9-2 win for SWB (Empire State). Chase Whitley 4 scoreless innings of relief for the win (8-5, 4.02). 1B Brandon Laird 3 hits, HR, 4 RBI (.252-13-67). Ramiro Pena accepted reassignment to SWB. 3 hits tonight. (2B). SS Eduardo Nunez 2 hits, 2 RBI.

AA: Trenton off. 69-45, 1st place by 7 in Eastern League’s Eastern Division.

High A: Tampa off. 26-18, 1st by 1 1/2 in the Florida State League’s North Division. They were 30-37, 12 back, 4th place, in the first half of the season. (Split season).

Low A:  Extra innings for Charleston as they win 4-3 in 14 innings. Matt Bashore 5 scoreless IP, 4.11. LF Eduardo Sosa 4 hits (.281), CF Ben Gamel 2 h, 3 RBI (.304).