Yankees-Rays: Phil Hughes Starts, Jorge Posada & Shelley Duncan Bring Home Win

(The Voice of Yankees Universe)

Phil Hughes got the start today, but he didn’t have his best stuff. Okay...I can’t complain because he got out of it, but he hit two batters and walked one. He just didn’t have his control today. He wound up pitching two scoreless innings, allowing no hits, and struck out two batters.

Phil Coke came out of the pen in relief and put two scoreless frames on the board. Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, J. Brent Cox, Jonathan Albaladejo, and Mark Melancon all came in later on to pitch an inning of work.

The only one to surrender a run was Cox. He just wasn’t effective at all. He allowed three hits and gave up an earned run on an RBI single by Jon Weber.

The pitching has been pretty damn good overall this spring. Let’s see if they can keep it up.

As for the offense, the only guys supplying the team with runs today were Jorge Posada and Shelley Duncan. They both hit home runs and combined together for 3-3 1R 2HR 5RBI.

Posada looked really good at the plate. Not only did he hit a home run, but he also hit a double. Hopefully this is a better season for Jorge. I have a feeling his bat will come back to life this year, as I think the injury last season affected the way he hit.

The Yankees racked up a total of five runs on seven hits on the game.

February 26, 2009

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   R   H   E  Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0   1 5 0 NY Yankees 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 X   5 7 0

NY Yankees	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).

NY Yankees	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

Final Score: NY Yankees 5, Tampa Bay 1

(stats courtesy of mlb.com)

They now stand at a perfect 2-0 record. I don’t put that much stock in spring training games, but a win is a win, and it seems like the Yankees are on the ball so far.

The Yankees play @ MIN tomorrow. The game will start at 1:05PM ET, but it will not be televised.

I’m sorry for the lack of updates. I will be back tomorrow catching up on everything I missed...

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