Derek Jeter and Team USA Beat New York Yankees 6-5

Every fan knows that Derek Jeter is all about winning. So it’s fitting that the only time in his career he hasn’t played for the Yankees, he beat them as a member of Team USA, as they prepare for the World Baseball Classic.

After a poor first at bat where he hit into a double-play, Jeter had a good game, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and a pair of RBI. He also got away with a throwing error that was ruled a hit after first baseman Kevin Youkilis couldn’t handle the throw in the dirt.

The starting pitcher for the Yankees, Phil Hughes, went 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two. He looked better today than he did in his first spring start, which is to be expected. He got up to as high as 92 MPH, but dropped down to 88 in the third inning before being chased on a two-RBI single by Jeet.

Five pitchers came in on relief of Hughes, and they all pitched pretty well, except for minor leaguer Eric Hacker, who could have escaped a four-run inning if he had some help from Angel Berroa.

Berroa booted what would have been a double-play ball. Had Berroa made the play, Hacker likely would have allowed just one run.

Phil Coke came on in relief of Hughes, and he pitched very well for 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and a pair of strike outs.

I find it a little bit sad that Hughes is still being developed as the teams’ sixth starter, while Coke is being pushed to the bullpen.  Clearly, it has nothing to do with how either has played on the field.

At the plate, Brett Gardner was very impressive. As he is trying to fight for the starting center field job, Gardner went 3-for-3 with a double and a stolen base. Meanwhile, Melky Cabrera didn’t fare as well.

He did manage a big single in the ninth inning, and stole second, but he looked silly in an earlier at-bat when looking at strike three from Heath Bell.

Jorge Posada also looked good today as he DH’ed, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Cody Ransom also played a good game, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, a stolen base, and one RBI.

Here are the Yankees’ box score and pitching lines via MLB.com:

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Curtis, LF	2	1	1	0	0	1	1	.500
Gardner, CF	3	1	3	0	0	0	0	1.000
Cabrera, M, CF	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.500
Teixeira, 1B	2	0	1	0	1	1	1	.500
Bernier, 3B	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	.000
Posada, DH	3	0	2	1	0	1	2	.667
1-Rodriguez, J, PR-DH	2	1	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Nady, RF	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.333
Duncan, S, RF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Ransom, 2B	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	.667
Pena, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Cash, C	3	0	0	0	0	2	3	.000
Anson, C	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000
Berroa, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000
Nunez, E, SS	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Leone, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Swisher, 1B	2	0	1	2	0	0	2	.500
Totals	38	5	13	5	2	10	16

1-Ran for Posada in the sixth.
BATTING
2B: Gardner (1, Ziegler), Swisher (1, Thornton).
TB: Curtis; Gardner 4; Cabrera, M; Teixeira; Posada 2; Nady; Ransom 2; Nunez, E; Swisher 2.
RBI: Posada (1), Ransom (1), Swisher 2 (2), Bernier (1).
2-out RBI: Swisher 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Posada; Berroa; Teixeira; Curtis; Swisher; Duncan, S.
SF: Bernier.
GIDP: Nady.
Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING
SB: Ransom (1, 2nd base off Ziegler/McCann), Cabrera, M (1, 2nd base off Lindstrom/Iannetta), Gardner (1, 2nd base off Oswalt/McCann).

FIELDING
E: Berroa (1, fielding), Dunn (1, pickoff).
DP: (Ransom-Teixeira).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes, P	2.2	3	2	2	0	2	0	6.75
Coke	2.1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Hacker	0.0	2	4	3	2	0	0	–
Dunn	1.2	0	0	0	1	3	0	0.00
Robertson	1.1	0	0	0	1	2	0	0.00
Veras	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0.00