Yankees Split Squad Tops Phillies, Lose To Twins
Game One
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hiroki Kuroda pitched well into the sixth inning and Robinson Cano got three hits Friday as a split squad of New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3.
Kuroda gave up one run and six hits in 5 2-3 innings of his fourth exhibition outing. He's expected to make one more start before beginning the season in the Yankees' rotation.
Cano doubled twice, including a two-run liner in the first inning. Vance Worley had thrown eight straight scoreless innings before the Yankees started the game with four hard hits in a row, capped by an RBI single to the wall from Eric Chavez. Worley struck out seven in six innings.
New Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a perfect ninth.
Game Two
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Francisco Liriano gave up four hits over five shutout innings in the Minnesota Twins' 6-4 loss to a New York Yankees split squad on Friday.
Coming off five hitless innings against Pittsburgh last Sunday, Liriano struck out five and walked one.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter had a hit and made a nice defensive play in his return from a stiff left calf. The team captain didn't play for eight days.
New York's Ivan Nova went seven innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. The right-hander retired 12 in a row before allowing a leadoff double to Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham's two-run homer to start the fifth.
The Yankees said reliever Joba Chamberlain had surgery after dislocating his right ankle while playing with his son Thursday. There is no timetable for his return.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.)
