Joba, Phil Get Action In As Yanks Fall 9-7 To Phills

post from A Die Hard Yankees Fan on 22 March 2010 11:38:00 PM. © A Die Hard Yankees Fan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E NY Yankees1015000007120Philadelphia5000100129121
WP: M. Stutes (1-0)LP: P. Hughes (0-2)

ON THE MOUND:

Joe Girardi said that he will be making his fifth starter decision on Thursday or Friday so today looks like it was the last day for Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain to prove themselves. Both pitchers pitched in relief today, Joba in the AM intrasquad game and Hughes in the regularly scheduled game in Clearwater against the Phillies.

In the early game, Chamberlain allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out one in five innings pitched. He also had a pretty good ball-to-strike ratio, throwing 48 of his 74 pitches for strikes. Girardi told Bryan Hoch that Chamberlain was hitting 93-94 MPH on the gun, which is also a good sign.

"It keeps getting better," Chamberlain said. "This was probably the best my changeup has ever been. I threw some great pitches today. There's times I got a little bit tired, but those are times you've got to bear in and not take a pitch off, because it can hurt you." (source: Bryan Hoch)

"It felt really good," Chamberlain said. "Threw a lot of good changeups, continued to get my legs under me. The ball felt good coming out of my hand." (source: Marc Carig)

Over in Clearwater, Hughes had some of the best stuff he's had all spring, but was victimized by the long ball, allowing three including a two-run walk-off shot in the bottom of the ninth. The homers were hit by Ben Francisco, Dane Sardinha, and Wilson Valdez, who hit the walk-off. While the final line wasn't too impressive--4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--his stuff was very good and he threw strikes.

?I felt really good with all my pitches,? he said. ?It just seemed like every fly ball that was hit out there was either going to hit off the wall or leave the yard. I threw probably the best changeups I?ve ever thrown. Probably the first strikeout I?ve ever gotten with a changeup. It?s hard to swallow the three home runs and say I was happy with the way I threw, but I really was.?

?I?ve done all I can do,? Hughes said. ?We?ll just have to see where they want to go from here? I feel like I?ve worked hard to get myself to this point where I can be a successful starter.? (source: Chad Jennings)

Tough decision looms for Girardi.

A.J. Burnett, who started the game against the Phillies, did not have his best day. Here's his line: 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB 4 K. ?I threw some good changeups,?Burnett said. ?They got hit, but you keep throwing them. It?s different. In the season, you might start off bringing the curveball out a little earlier, but we wanted to establish that fastball early and they swung early.?

Andy Pettitte started the intrasquad game, and allowed 3 runs on 12 hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out 6 in 4 innings. 54 0f his 80 pitches were strikes.

Mariano Rivera had another easy inning in the intrasquad game: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches, 16 strikes.

Chan Ho Park had another impressive outing. In 2.1 innings he allowed just one hit and struck out five. He threw 29 pitches, 20 for strikes.

Royce Ring retired the only batter he faced, the left-handed Raul Ibanez.

Damaso Marte allowed a two hits, walked one, and struck out one in 1.1 innings.

David Robertson struck out three and walked one in 1.1 innings pitched.

THE OFFENSE:

Mark Teixeira went 4-for-4 with a homer (3rd of the spring), a double, a 2 RBI.

Curtis Granderson went 2-for-3, with a double, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.

Ramiro Pena picked up two hits in four at-bats, scored a run and stole a base.

ABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVGGardner, LF3101000.257Golson, CF1000000.300Granderson, CF3121100.267Miranda, 1B1000000.214Teixeira, 1B4242000.400Winfree, RF1000010.278Swisher, RF3011004.321Weber, J, LF1010000.571Cervelli, C4000014.381a-Pilittere, PH-C1000001.200Pena, R, SS4120000.250Russo, 3B-2B4111011.348Corona, 2B0000000.211Nunez, E, 2B3111001.231Ring, P0000000.000Hughes, P, P1000010.000Burnett, A, P1000011.000Vazquez, Jo, 3B2000010.200Totals3771271612
a-Popped out for Cervelli in the 9th.
BATTING
2B: Granderson (1, Hamels), Teixeira (1, Hamels), Russo (3, Hamels), Nunez, E (3, Hamels), Weber, J (4, Stutes).
3B: Pena, R (1, Hamels).
HR: Teixeira (3, 4th inning off Hamels, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Granderson 3; Teixeira 8; Swisher; Weber, J 2; Pena, R 4; Russo 2; Nunez, E 2.
RBI: Granderson (2), Swisher (7), Russo (3), Nunez, E (4), Gardner (2), Teixeira 2 (5).
2-out RBI: Swisher; Teixeira 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Burnett, A; Swisher; Pilittere.
S: Burnett, A.
SF: Gardner.
GIDP: Cervelli.
Team RISP: 4-for-10.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: Pena, R (2, 2nd base off Hamels/Sardinha, D).

IPHRERBBSOHRERABurnett, A4.07553419.00Ring (H, 4)0.10000000.00Hughes, P (BS, 1)(L, 0-2)4.15440634.15

UP NEXT:

The Yankees are off tomorrow. They will get back in action on Wednesday when they host the Nationals.