Yankees-Marlins 1:05 (3/18)

Jaret Wright hopes to rebound from his rough outing against the Pirates, goes up against the Marlins today at 1:05. Briam Moehler gets the nod for the retooled fish.

The Yankees starting lineup will be strengthened when the team returns to Tampa tomorrow. Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Bernie Williams will be back in camp, the result of the US and Puerto Rican teams being eliminated from the WBC. Damon had been cleared by Dr. Lewis Yocum to pinch-run and pinch-hit for Team USA, so the Yankees are hoping he won't miss much action due to shoulder tendinitis. Joe Torre feels that Bernie Williams will need the most work of the four since he only saw action as a designated hitter.

Carl Pavano and Aaron Small will already be starting the season on the disabled list, and now word comes that outfielder Bubba Crosby is suffering from a sore hamstring. Crosby, who missed time earlier with a bruised index finger, sat out Friday and most likely will not play on the weekend.


Update 1:45

The Yankees have just taken a 4-0 lead in the top of the 3rd. With one run already in, Hideki Matsui blasted a long 3-run homer off of Marlins starter Brian Moehler.

Update 2:10

The Yankees have just broken the game open in the 4th, taking a 7-0 lead. Kevin Howard, who already had an RBI single to his credit, delivered a bases loaded triple knocking Moehler out of the game.

Jaret Wright has had his best outing to date, with a fairly easy 3 innings.

Update 4:05

The Yankees improved to 8-11 for the exhibition season with an 8-3 victory over the Florida Marlins. Kevin Howard and Hideki Matsui drove in 4 runs each and Jaret Wright had his best outing of the spring.

Howard put the Yankees on the board first with an RBI single and later added a 3-run triple. Matsui belted a 3-run home run and added a sacrifice fly, as he and Howard combined for all the RBI.

Wright had plenty of life on his fastball and the most command of his pitches that we've seen this spring. He allowed 1 run in four innings of works. Dusty Bergman, Mike Myers, J.B. Cox, and Ron Villone threw an inning each.

The Yankees return to Legends field on Sunday to face the Cleveland Indians. Randy Johnson gets the start for the Yankees in a game televised on YES at 1:15.