Phillies Tie Tigers, Lose To Yankees In Split-Squad Games
CLEARWATER/TAMPA, Fla. (CBS/AP) — Cliff Lee keeps working out the kinks.
The Philadelphia left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Raburn in the first inning on Sunday and the Detroit Tigers and Phillies tied at 4 in a split-squad exhibition. The game was called after the 10th.
Lee gave up three consecutive hits to begin the game, including Raburn's shot. After Miguel Cabrera singled, Lee set down three straight batters, striking out two of them.
"Physically I felt fine. My location was a little off, but I threw strikes," Lee said. "I got through it healthy. I'm building up endurance. I'm headed in the right direction."
Lee, slowed by a minor abdominal injury at the start of spring, allowed six hits in three innings. Lee has given up two runs on eight hits in two exhibition games, spanning five innings.
"Early on you're not worried about results, you're more worried about feeling right, making sure you're headed in the right direction," Lee said. "I could definitely locate better. I feel like I will. It's just early. I'm a little rusty with a few things but that's normal, too."
Detroit starter Rick Porcello went four innings and also gave up two runs on six hits.
"I was going out there trying to execute all my pitches," Porcello said. "I was missing with my slider early on, just wasn't getting on top of it."
Tigers star Miguel Cabrera, making the transition back to third base this spring, went 2 for 3 and is hitting .316 in seven games. Ramon Santiago went 3 for 3 and scored twice.
Raburn had two hits and drove in three runs. He is 5 for 10 in five games this spring.
For the Phillies, bench hopeful Pete Orr went 3 for 4 with a walk and infield prospect Freddy Galvis, who made his second straight start at second base, drove in two runs.
In the other split-squad game, the Phillies were shutout by the New York Yankees 3-0 in Tampa.
Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick gave up three hits in three shutout innings with two strikeouts and no walks in the loss.
"I feel real good right now, that's the main thing," Kendrick said.
Kendrick agreed to a $7.5 million, two-year contract with the Phillies last month. He went 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA last year in 15 starts and 19 relief appearances.
"I love starting, but if it's the seventh, eighth — if it's starting, whatever they ask you take the ball," Kendrick said. "I just go out there and try to get better. Do my business every day. They're going to make those decisions. It's up to them."
Derek Jeter singled off Kendrick in the first and third innings. Chris Dickerson had a two-run single in the fourth — an inning after he collided with plate umpire Dan Iassogna after getting tagged out in a rundown.
Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was equally effective. Sabathia, slated to start New York's opener at Tampa Bay on April 6, allowed two hits, struck out two and walked one. He threw 28 of 39 pitches for strikes, and he worked out of a two-on, no-outs jam in the first, getting fly balls from Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton.
"Fastball command was pretty good," Sabathia said. "Secondary pitches were working. Still have a little ways to go. Still want to work on my two-seamer and being able to throw that at any time, but feel good today."
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw a perfect inning during his first spring training appearance of the year.
The Phillies had just three hits off seven pitchers.
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