Weekend Update

Just don't tell Lorne Michaels. Yours truly was down for the count with a bug and some overtime, so I didn't get a chance to post until today. Here's a wrap-up of the games and news from Friday thru today.

Friday

This game made news before it even started. Carl Pavano was in the middle of warm ups as he readied for his start. First came the news that Pavano was being sued by the guy who Pavano crashed into last year. Then Pavano, with permission form the Yanks, skedaddled. At the time, the team wouldn't specify what the issue was, but said it had nothing to do with the lawsuit.
Since then word has come down that the problem was a medical issue involving Pavano's girlfriend. Pavano verified that info yesterday, though he would not go into any detail. There has been an unsubstantiated rumor that she suffered a miscarriage.

As for the game, the Yankees pitching was the story once again as Jeffrey Karstens stepped up and tossed 3 shutout innings in his emergency start. He was originally slated to appear in relief in the game. Chase Wright followed Karstens with two 2-3 scoreless innings. Meanwhile Derek Jeter delivered a 2-run single in a 4-run 2nd inning. Jorge Posada added a solo home run in the 6th. It was Jorgie's 2nd of the spring. Melky Cabrera added 2 hits as well.

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Saturday

The Yankees traveled to Bradenton on Saturday to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eric Duncan smacked a 2-run HR off of Salomon Torres in the top of the 9th to give the Yankees a 5-3 victory. Luis Vizcaino picked up the victory with an inning of relief. Sean Henn recorded the final out to earn the save.

All eyes were on the Yankees' starting pitcher in this one. Kei Igawa improved on his first outing, with 3 innings of solid work. Ronny Paulino tagged Igawa for a 2-out, 2-run HR in his 3rd and final inning of work. Igawa allowed 5 hits, walked none, and struck out 4. Tyler Clippard continued to make a name for himself by throwing a pair of scoreless innings. Robinson Cano helped out the offense with an RBI and a run scored.

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Sunday

Earlier today the Yankees hosted the Cleveland Indians at Legends Field. Chien-Ming Wang got the start and turned in his longest outing of the season. After allowing a 1st inning HR to former Yankee David Dellucci, Wang allowed just 2 more hits, walked 1, and struck out 3 in his 4 innings of work. Things did not go as smoothly for Phil Hughes. The prized prospect struggled with his control, walking 3 in 1 1-3 innings. He also allowed 3 runs on 4 hits. He's mostly headed to the minor league camp sooner rather than later.

Fausto Carmona failed miserably in his tryout as the Indians closer late last summer, but he breezed through 3 innings in his start against the Yanks. A-Rod and Brett Gardner each drove in a run off the Indians pen, but the Yankees trailed 4-2 in the 9th. That's when another super prospect gave the crowd a thrill. 19-year old Jose Tabata smacked an opposite field HR off of Jeff Harris for the Yankees final run in their 4-3 defeat.

Mariano Rivera gave up his 1st hit of the spring, but breezed through his 1 inning of work. Bronson Sardinha continued his torrid spring with 2 more hits.




A sign of things to come? Tabata goes deep