Sabathia Solid In First Spring Outing As Yankees Lose To Marlins 1-0
JUPITER, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- CC Sabathia spent four hours on the team bus to make his spring training debut.
The outing went much quicker.
Sabathia pitched two hitless innings Tuesday for the New York Yankees, who lost 1-0 to the Miami Marlins.
Sabathia threw only six pitches in the first, all strikes. The lone baserunner against him was Chris Johnson, who walked on a 3-2 pitch with two out in the second.
The trip Monday evening to Florida's east coast from the Yankees' complex in Tampa took a lot longer.
"That bus ride was terrible," the 35-year-old Sabathia said with a slight smile. "I'm too old to be riding on the bus, man. Maybe I'll take a helicopter next time."
Sabathia gave his pitching better reviews. It was his first outing since he entered an alcohol rehabilitation program last October.
"Got some quick outs, quick swings, threw everything, so it felt good," he said. "I felt good just to get back out there. It's fun to be competing again, and it went well."
Sabathia is set to earn $25 million this season.
Aaron Hicks two of the Yankees' five hits, including a double. Luis Cessa pitched two hitless innings.
Miami had only two hits, both in the seventh. Don Kelly singled and scored on a two-out single by Johnson.
Marlins starter Tom Koehler allowed three hits and a walk in three scoreless innings. David Phelps, a contender for the rotation, threw two scoreless innings.
Brad Hand, Mike Dunn, Craig Breslow and Dustin McGowan each pitched one hitless inning. A spot in the Miami bullpen became open with the loss of right-hander Carter Capps, who was to undergo Tommy John surgery Tuesday.
STARTING TIME
Sabathia threw 25 pitches, 16 for strikes.
"He threw the ball extremely well," manager Joe Girardi said. "He located extremely well, and that's what we wanted to see. He's throwing it where he wants to, and he's got movement."
Sabathia struck out Christian Yelich and Martin Prado.
"He kind of mowed us down pretty good," Miami manager Don Mattingly said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: LF Brett Gardner, who stayed behind in Tampa, took 31 swings during his first full on-field batting practice session since bruising his left wrist in last year's AL wild-card game loss to Houston. ... 2B Starlin Castro took batting practice one day after having a root canal.
Marlins: Slugger Giancarlo Stanton missed his second game in a row because of a sore right knee. He worked out before the game and ran, threw and hit.
"We're just testing it to see where it's at," president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. "We'll see how the knee responds."
Stanton will not play Wednesday but is expected to work out again.
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Yankees will play exhibition games against the Marlins in Miami on April 1-2.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Cardinals in Jupiter.
Yankees: They remain on Florida's east coast for a game Wednesday, with RHP Ivan Nova scheduled to make his second spring training start at the Mets.
Sabathia planned to return to Tampa ahead of his teammates.
"I'm going back tonight -- not on the bus," he said.
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