Yankees-Blue Jays 1:05 (3/6)

Yankees face the Blue Jays today in Tampa with a 1:05 start. Chien-Ming Wang starts against highly touted Dustin McGowan. The game will be televised on YES.

Gary Sheffield missed yesterday's game with a tight hamstring and could sit out again today. Hideki Matsui, who DH'ed on Sunday, is expected to return to the outfield today.

The Jays are missing Vernon Wells (USA), Alex Rios (Puerto Rico), and Gustavo Chacin (Venezuela) to the WBC.

The Yankees are 30-23 all-time vs. the Jays in Spring Training games.

Injury Update - Tanyon Sturtze threw 10 minutes of batting practice and is expected to do so again later in the week.


Notes

Kirby Puckett remains in critical condition in a Scottsdale, AZ hospital after surgery following a stroke.


Update 1:45

Blue Jays lead 3-2, top 2

Glaus and Hinske have homered for the Jays.

Giambi with a sac fly; Andy Phillips RBI single.

Update 2:25

Yankees put a 6-spot up on the board in the 2nd to take an 8-3 lead. Robinson Cano with a home run.

Update 2:45

Aaron Small in to pitch the top of the 4th. Wang went the first 3, allowing 3 runs. Yankees lead 8-3.

Update 3:15

Blue Jays rallied for 5 runs in the top of the 5th to tie the game. Kevin Barker hitting the Jays third HR of the day, a 3-run blast off of Ramiro Mendoza.

Update 4:00

Yankees lead 10-8 in the 7th. Kevin Thompson's RBI double highlighted a 2-run 5th.

Ron Villone pitching.

Update 4:45

Yankees win 11-8; Wil Nieves added a home run. Despite a shoddy outing, Mendoza get the win. J.B. Cox picks up the save. Yankees improve to 2-3.

Game Notes

Andy Phillips led the hitting attack with 3 RBI, while Miguel Cairo and Robinson Cano added 2 ribbies each. Cano went 2-2 and was hit by a pitch.

Troy Glaus drove in 4 for the Jays, while Kevin Barker added 3 RBI.


Yankees pitching line

Pitcher...........................IP...H...R...ER..BB..SO..HR
C Wang.............................2...6...3....3...0...0...2
A Small............................2...4...4...1....0...1...0
R Mendoza (W,1-0)..................1...1...1...1....0...1...1
S Erickson.....................1 2-3...2...0...0....0...2...0
R Villone......................1 1-3...0...0...0....0...2...0
J Cox (S,1)........................1...0...0...0....1...1...0

Jays prospect Dustin McGowan was torched for 7 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in just 1 official inning pitched.

Yankees host Minnesota tomorrow, 1:15 on YES. Shawn Chacon faces Brad Radke.