Top of 1st: Joba Chamberlain went three up three down.  Struck out Brandon Inge and Gary Sheffield.

Bottom of 3rd:  Angel Berroa looking to continue his scorching spring start, and he was the first to face Porcello who has only given up one hit through two innings.  Porcello out of high school got a pretty decent bonus according to Suzyn, over $7 million.  Berroa picked up the second hit of the day hitting one between first and second.  I miss blogged before, by the way, Porcello is only 19 years old.  Not 21 as erroneously reported by yours truly before.  This, boys and girls, is why I was a communications major. I stink at math, and I beg your pardon.  Melky Cabrera was next and chopped one to second on a hit and run, Berroa got to second, Cabrera out at first.  One out man on second for Johnny Damon, and he spanked one, one-hopping it off the right-field wall for a double, Berroa scores, so the hit and run was a blessing in disguise. Mark Teixeira followed Damon with a double down the left field line, back to back doubles for the Yankees. Damon scores, and the Bombers are in front 2-1.  Porcello’s day is done after the back-to-back doubles.  The rookie came into the inning allowing only one hit, but the second time through the order, the Yankees were wise to his craft.  Clay Rapada replaced Porcello.  His style very much like Mike Myers — a perfect description by John and Suzyn in the booth.  Think of that side arm waving whiffle ball type curve ball and that is Rapada.  Matsui was first to face him and he worked a walk after being down in the count 1-2.  Xavier Nady was next, coming to the plate to “Without Me” by Eminem quality song, but X-man grounded into a 6-4-3 to end the Yankees threat. Tigers 1 Yankees 2

Top of 4th:  Joba still in…Larish grounds out to Teixeira for the first out on a 1-2 pitch.  Joba’s day was done after that ground out. Just two and a third – 61 pitches in total – 41 strikes/20 balls … one run on four hits. Jonathan Albaladejo is in now in relief of Chamberlain and Gerald Laird lined Albaladejo’s second pitch into right field for a single. Laird is now 2 for 2. Brent Clevlen who singled his last time up is now facing the big Yankees righty … Clevlen singled hard up the middle and, as John Sterling brought up, Albaladejo did a stupid but instinctive thing trying to barehand the comebacker, Melky Cabrera’s throw got by Ransom and Clevlen made it to second. Next batter Ryan Raburn flew to left…Johnny Damon made the catch and also threw home and nailed Gerald Laird trying to tag up. Great block of the plate by Jose Molina.  Tigers 1 Yankees 2

Bottom of 4th:  Rapada faced just one batter — Robbie Cano, and he singled under the glove of Larish at first and into right before Jim Leyland came out to get his sidewinding lefty in favor of righty Zach Minor.  Minor’s first batter was Yankees’ third baseman Cody Ransom — first pitch swinging, and he flew out to Raburn in center.  Robbie Cano was on the move on the hit and run and had to return to first. Jose Molina hit a 3-2 pitch to third. Cano was on the move and kept the Yankees out of the double play, but Molina was thrown out at first.  Two out, Cano on second, Berroa at the dish…hit one back to the box, and Minor knocked it down and threw him out. Tigers 1 Yankees 2

Top of the 5th:  Albaladejo still in…Adam Everett hit a ball into the Bermuda Triangle…in between Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and Xavier Nady.  The ball just dropped in between all three, hence the triangle reference.  Everett safe at first with a single.  The line-up turned over once again and Brandon Inge was the next hitter…Inge struck out twice and then in this at bat popped out by the Yankees on deck circle…Teixeira made the squeeze.  One out, one on for Placido Polanco who struck out his last time against Joba Chamberlain…this time facing Albaladejo and different at bat same story Polanco caught browsing for the second out.  Gary Sheffield singled in his last at bat looking to tie things up or even give Detroit the lead…the Yankees had the Sheffield shift on with Robbie Cano behind second and he popped out sky high to Berroa at short.  Tigers 1 Yankees 2

Bottom of the 5th:  Melky Cabrera led off and grounded a single on the second base side into centerfield…Johnny Damon followed took the first pitch for a ball and watched as Cabrera stole second, the throw from Laird as Suzyn pointed out on the air, was not good.  Second time today Damon did his job, its an oh-fer in the box score but Damon grounded out to second allowing Cabrera to reach third with one out and Mark Teixeira came up next and struck out swinging.  Hideki Matsui grounded out to second to end the threat.  Tigers 1 Yankees 2

Mariano is in for the Top of the sixth.

Top 6th:  Mariano Rivera in…to this point in his return from shoulder surgery…he’s worked two innings and threw just 16
pitches. Just five in his last outing…he threw that many to his first batter Marcus Thames and struck him out swining.  Jeff Larish first pitch swinging grounded one weakly to second for the second out.  John Sterling said it was a cutter and tied Larish up so much that it looked like he hit a nerf ball.  Gerald Laird though continued his perfect day at 3-3 he singles into right – the first base runner allowed by Mo, in this his third inning of work this spring.  He retired the first eight batters he saw.  Brent Clevlen followed and struck out looking for out number 3.  12 pitches, ten for strikes, bringing the total for the spring to 28 pitches in three innings of work.  Tigers 1 Yankees 2

Bottom 6th:  Minor still dealing…Nady grounded out to third on the second pitch of the at bat.  X-man 0-3 on the day.  Robbie Cano singled in his last plate appearance and this time against Minor flies out to Clevlen in right center for the second out.  Cody Ransom looking for his first hit in his third at bat…and he did smacking a line drive into center…one on two outs for Jose Molina looking for his first hit of the day as well, and Molina hit one up the middle it was stabbed by the shortstop Adam Everett but his flip to second didn’t get Ransom who was hustling all the way.  Molina on, on the fielders choice, first and second for Angel Berroa…one for two on the day…make it one for three as he grounds out to Brandon Inge at third…Inge won the foot race with Ransom to the bag for the final out.  Tigers 1 Yankees 2 

Changes for the Yankees 1st base Juan Miranda 2nd Doug Bernier SS Eduardo Nunez 3B Justin Leone RF Todd Linden C Francisco Cervelli LF John Rodriguez P Edwar Ramirez

Top 7:  Ryan Raburn facing Edwar Ramirez and he reaches first on a bunt to 3rd base.  New Yankees third baseman Justin Leone charged, fired, and Juan Miranda couldn’t come up with the scoop at first Raburn safe with a single.  Everett grounded out to short for the first out Raburn advanced to second he was on the move on the hit and run.  Inge followed flying out deep to center to Brett Gardner, Raburn tagged and went to third.  Will Rhymes singled to right and Raburn scores to tie the game at two bringing up Gary Sheffield who has been hearing a hefty amount of boos here today from the George M. Steinbrenner field crowd.  Another sell out by the way here at the Boss.  Sheffield worked a walk against Ramirez and then came out of the game.  Clete Thomas came into pinch run for Sheff.  First and second two out for Wilkin Ramirez and after drilling one just foul down the left field line, the 23 year old Ramirez who hit 303 with 19 homers and 73 ribbies on the farm last year, whiffed on a change up to end the inning.  Tigers 2 Yankees 2

Bottom 7:  Get up and stretch!  Fernando Rodney in to pitch for the Tigers.  Leading off the inning – Brett Gardner – he took over for Melky Cabrera and laid down a perfect bunt and beat it out without a throw – right in front of the mound.  Gardner flew down the first base line.  You have to see this kid in person to really get an idea of just how fast he is.  New left fielder Johnny Rodriguez grounded into a fielder’s choice erasing Gardner from the base paths.  The new first baseman Juan Miranda now up, with one on, and one out.   Miranda absolutely TATTOOED one over the right center field wall to give the Yankees a two run lead.  I have to tell you being in here listening to Mr. Sterling’s live call of a homer is in a word…tremendous.   Shelley Duncan resident great guy with a tough act to follow and he grounded out to short stop for the second out of the inning…Todd Linden now up … his music of choice … Standing on Top of the World by Van Halen…not Van Hagar…solid tune…wasn’t a fan of the Van Hagar days…maybe a couple tunes…but I was a David Lee Roth guy…okay back to the game…Linden almost took the head off of new Yankees first base coach Mick Kelleher with a foul line drive…Kelleher is okay…got up and tipped his helmet…and Linden flies out to right to end the inning.  Tigers 2 Yankees 4  

Jose Veras in to pitch the 8th for the Yankees.

Top 8:  Jeff Larish led off the inning against Veras and quickly deposited Veras’ second pitch of his afternoon over the wall in right into the bleachers.  As I mentioned in my earlier BP blog, Larish was destroying the ball and that looked exactly like his BP session.  After an error by Justin Leone allowed an unnamed Tigers batter get on (I apologize I did not have him on my roster) – Another unnamed Tiger grounded out to second followed by Raburn striking out with pinch runner Jeff Frazier on at second with two outs.  Brent Delugich followed and grounded to short…the ball was booted by Nunez at short…ruling was E-6…Frazier had a thought to try and score…but stopped after three steps and got back to third…first and third two outs for Mike Hessman and he flew out to Brett Gardner in left center…a lazy fly ball…Tigers 3 Yankees 4

Bottom 8:  Eddie Bonine is now in to pitch for Jim Leyland’s team…Doug Bernier led off the inning – his first at bat of the afternoon – and he singles right back up the middle – directly over the bag for a leadoff single.  Justin Leone trying to atone for his error in the top of the inning – and Leone – popped out to Larish at first.  Francisco Cervelli was up next and rocketed a line drive double painting the line in left.  Yankees set up second and third and Eduardo Nunez at the plate…fielder’s choice for Nunez…he grounded to third…Bernier was thrown out in a rundown trying to score…Cervelli advanced to third…Nunez safe at first…Brett Gardner now up…one for one…after a perfect bunt in his first at bat after taking over for Melky Cabrera in center…wild pitch to Gardner…Cervelli tried to score but was thrown out at the plate…we head to the 9th…Tigers 3 Yankees 4

Top 9:  Will Rhymes led off and tried to bunt his way on against the new Yankees pitcher Zach Kroenke, but Francisco Cervelli made a TREMENDOUS play to gun down Rhymes out at first…words don’t put the play into perspective and I’m sorry you couldn’t see it.  It was a web gem.  Clete Thomas was second and grounded out to second for the second out…Kroenke then hit a batter…and then faced Jeff Larish who pulverised a Jose Veras pitch in his last at bat.  Larish this time…pops out in foul ground to Leone right near the rail of the Tigers dugout.  BALL GAME OVER…YANKEES WIN THAAAAAAAA YANKEES WIN!   Their 9th straight… Special thanks to John Sterling, Suzyn Waldman and Carlos Silva their producer – for letting me hang in the booth as they called the game.  It was a great experience and I would hope I am able to do it again in my time down here in Tampa.  Have a great rest of your day everyone.