The Yankees Tie, The Yankees Tie

It's a good thing we didn't hear John Sterling's broadcast of today's game. How could he have possibly finished his day? The Yankees played the back end of a home and home series with the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon, with the game ending in a 7-7 deadlock. With all the eligible pitchers used, managers Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel shook hands and called it a day after 9 innings.

Jason Giambi showed the form that Yankees fans are hoping to see on a regular basis. He crushed a 3-run home run in the 1st inning off of lefty Cole Hamels and added an RBI double in the 3rd against lesser known lefty, Fabio Castro. Newcomer Jason Lane added his first home run of the spring and a stand up triple.

Andy Pettitte made his first appearance of the grapefruit league and tossed two shutout frames, that included a double play and a pick off. Both teams had 7 runs on 12 hits, with the Yankees blowing a 5-1 lead and then coming from behind to tie the game in the 8th.

Steven White struggled in his 1-plus innings of work, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks. Kyle Farnsworth looked like, well, Kyle Farnsworth, surrendering a solo home run to Pat Burrell in his only inning of work. The Phillies scored 2 runs off of the slimmer, but apparently still unreliable, Brian Bruney in the 8th. Alberto Gonzalez's RBI single in the bottom half of the inning tied things up, but he was stranded at 2nd.

Scott Patterson, LaTroy Hawkins, Sean Henn, and Jose Veras combined for 3 1-3 scoreless innings to round out the Yankees pitching day.

After the game Eric Duncan, Jesus Montero, Eduardo Nunez, and Austin Romine were sent to the minor league camp.

The Yankees travel to Kissimmee on Monday to face the Houston Astros at 1:05 pm. Mike Mussina gets the start against Wandy Rodriguez.