AJ Burnett won his third spring start and lowered his ERA to an eye popping 0.96 as he went 3 1/3 innings against his former team.

Burnett held the Blue Jays to one run and three hits as the Bombers continued to pound away this spring, winning by a final 7-4 score.

Eduardo Nunez homered and added two RBI's in his only at bat of the game. Nick Swisher continued to prove that last season was a fluke; Swish went 2-2 and added a RBI.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Posada, C	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	.357
Cash, C	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.350
Damon, LF	2	0	1	0	1	0	1	.278
Jackson, A, LF-CF	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	.310
Swisher, 1B	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	.281
Duncan, S, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	5	.417
Matsui, DH	2	0	1	1	1	0	1	.316
a-Cervelli, PH-DH	2	0	1	0	0	1	2	.182
Nady, RF	3	1	1	0	0	1	3	.286
Linden, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.053
Ransom, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	1	4	.333
Leone, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.167
Cabrera, M, CF	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.250
Rodriguez, J, LF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.333
Berroa, 2B	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	.415
Bernier, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.190
Pena, SS	3	1	1	1	0	0	0	.270
Nunez, E, SS	1	1	1	2	0	0	0	.455
Totals	37	7	14	7	3	6	22
a-Singled for Matsui in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Pena (2, Burres), Posada (4, Burres), Swisher (2, Burres), Cash (3, Purcey). 3B: Nady (2, Burres). HR: Nunez, E (1, 8th inning off Purcey, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Posada 2; Cash 2; Damon; Jackson, A; Swisher 3; Matsui; Cervelli; Nady 3; Cabrera, M; Rodriguez, J; Berroa; Pena 2; Nunez, E 4. RBI: Pena (7), Posada (7), Swisher (8), Cabrera, M (6), Matsui (6), Nunez, E 2 (5). 2-out RBI: Swisher; Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ransom 2; Matsui; Leone; Cervelli. GIDP: Berroa. Team LOB: 9. FIELDING DP: 3 (Ransom-Berroa-Duncan, S, Berroa-Pena-Swisher, Bernier-Nunez, E-Duncan, S).

According to the Associated Press:

Mariano Rivera struck out two during a perfect fifth inning in his first game since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Tuesday night.

"I feel real good," Rivera said. "I don't want to say I was expecting this, but I was happy with the results. It went well. Location. Pitches. I think everything will be fine."

Rivera had the AC joint in his right shoulder repaired on Oct. 7. The Yankees closer threw eight of 11 pitches for strikes.

"Mo looked like he has been pitching for a couple of weeks," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It was incredible. It was more than I expected."

The last time Chien Ming Wang faced the Astros, his season ended thanks to an awkward base running situation.

This time, Wang looked sharp tossing two innings, allowing only two hits.

The Yanks and Astros played to a tie, with each team scoring five runs.

Melky Cabrera, playing for a spot in the starting lineup, knocked in two runs and went 2-3 on the day (triple). Jorge Posada added another run and Angel Berroa homered.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	1	1	0	0	1	1	.143
Jackson, A, LF-CF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Cabrera, M, CF	3	1	2	2	0	0	0	.273
Linden, LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.125
Swisher, RF	2	1	0	0	1	0	1	.222
Curtis, RF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.200
Posada, DH	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	.625
a-Anson, PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Ransom, SS	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.167
Pena, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Molina, J, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	0	.143
Pilittere, C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.500
Miranda, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.182
Leone, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.286
Berroa, 2B	3	2	2	1	0	1	0	.571
Russo, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Bernier, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	2	1	.200
Nunez, E, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.400
Totals	34	5	9	4	1	8	8
a-Flied out for Posada in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Berroa (1, Hampton). 3B: Cabrera, M (1, Hampton). HR: Berroa (1, 4th inning off Ortiz, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon; Cabrera, M 4; Curtis; Posada; Molina, J; Pilittere; Berroa 6. RBI: Cabrera, M 2 (2), Posada (3), Berroa (1). 2-out RBI: Cabrera, M. GIDP: Ransom. Team LOB: 3. BASERUNNING CS: Curtis (1, 2nd base by Paronto/Quintero, H). FIELDING DP: 2 (Tomko-Ransom-Miranda, Berroa-Ransom-Leone).

So much for needing spring training to get used to live pitching.

The Yankees and the Reds combined for twenty four runs and thirty three hits and eight home runs.

On the Bomber side of the box score, Brett Gardner added his second homer of the spring while Robinson Cano and John Rodriguez each hit one of their own.

Yankee pitching, on the other hand, was a different story. Each pitcher gave up at least one run (earned or otherwise) and Damaso Marte gave up a pair of home runs during his inning of work.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gardner, CF	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	.500
a-Jackson, A, PH-CF	2	0	0	1	0	1	3	.286
Jeter, SS	3	2	3	0	0	0	0	.455
Nunez, E, SS	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	.400
Teixeira, 1B	3	1	2	0	0	0	1	.500
1-Miranda, PR-1B	2	1	0	0	0	2	1	.250
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	0	2	2	0	0	0	.429
2-Leone, PR-3B	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	.333
Cano, 2B	3	1	3	4	0	0	0	.556
3-Russo, PR-2B	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	.000
Nady, RF	3	0	0	0	0	1	3	.125
Duncan, S, RF	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.375
Rodriguez, J, LF	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.286
Linden, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.143
Ransom, DH	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	.222
b-Bernier, PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500
Cash, C	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	.667
Montero, C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.750
Pilittere, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	42	11	19	11	1	6	12
a-Grounded out for Gardner in the 6th. b-Popped out for Ransom in the 7th. 1-Ran for Teixeira in the 5th. 2-Ran for Rodriguez, A in the 5th. 3-Ran for Cano in the 5th.
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A 2 (2, Harang, Rhodes), Gardner (2, Rhodes), Cano (2, Rhodes), Cash (1, Cordero). HR: Gardner (2, 3rd inning off Harang, 0 on, 0 out), Cano (1, 4th inning off Weathers, 0 on, 0 out), Rodriguez, J (1, 4th inning off Weathers, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Gardner 6; Jeter 3; Nunez, E; Teixeira 2; Rodriguez, A 4; Leone; Cano 7; Rodriguez, J 4; Ransom; Cash 3; Montero. RBI: Rodriguez, A 2 (5), Cano 4 (4), Gardner (2), Rodriguez, J (1), Jackson, A (1), Nunez, E (1), Leone (2). 2-out RBI: Leone. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, J; Russo; Jackson, A. GIDP: Nady; Teixeira. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING SB: Nunez, E (1, 2nd base off Cordero/Denove), Leone (1, 2nd base off Cordero/Denove). CS: Cash (1, 2nd base by Weathers/Hanigan). FIELDING E: Russo (2, fielding), Nunez, E (1, fielding). PB: Montero (1). Outfield assists: Rodriguez, J (McDonald at 2nd base).

Joba was knocked around in his only inning of work yesterday, giving up two runs on three hits.

Relax, its only spring training.

In more alarming news, Jorge Posada was scratched from the lineup, after feeling soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Posada was stretching in the on deck circle when he said he "tweaked" the shoulder.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Curtis, LF	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000
Jeter, SS	2	1	1	1	0	0	1	.250
Pena, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.200
Teixeira, 1B	3	1	1	0	0	1	1	.400
Miranda, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333
Rodriguez, A, 3B	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	.250
Berroa, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500
Swisher, RF	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.286
Rodriguez, J, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Cano, 2B	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	.333
Bernier, 2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000
Molina, J, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000
Cervelli, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.167
Duncan, S, DH	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	.429
a-Montero, PH-DH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.667
Cabrera, M, CF	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.125
Jackson, A, CF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.400
Totals	30	3	7	2	3	3	14
a-Singled for Duncan, S in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Teixeira (1, Liriano). TB: Jeter; Teixeira 2; Cano; Duncan, S 2; Montero; Cabrera, M. RBI: Rodriguez, A (3), Jeter (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Molina, J; Teixeira. S: Damon. SF: Rodriguez, A; Jeter. GIDP: Swisher; Miranda; Jackson, A. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING Outfield assists: Curtis (Machado at 3rd base). DP: 3 (Molina, J-Jeter, Berroa-Cano-Miranda, Curtis-Pena-Berroa).

Shelley Duncan and Jorge Posada both homered en route to a 5-1 Bomber win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Phil Hughes and Phil Coke were both impressive in their outings, combining for four innings of one hit ball.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Gardner, CF	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200
Jeter, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Nunez, E, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Teixeira, 1B	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.500
Ransom, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Rodriguez, A, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.333
Bernier, 3B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Cano, 2B	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.250
Berroa, 2B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Nady, RF	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	.500
Duncan, S, RF	1	1	1	3	0	0	0	.250
Posada, DH	2	1	2	2	0	0	0	1.000
a-Anson, PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Molina, J, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Cervelli, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Cabrera, M, CF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Curtis, LF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Totals	30	5	7	5	0	6	3
a-Grounded out for Posada in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Nady (1, Abreu, W), Posada (1, Abreu, W). HR: Posada (1, 3rd inning off Orvella, 0 on, 0 out), Duncan, S (1, 7th inning off Medlock, 2 on, 0 out). TB: Teixeira; Bernier; Berroa; Nady 2; Duncan, S 4; Posada 6. RBI: Posada 2 (2), Duncan, S 3 (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M. GIDP: Rodriguez, A. Team LOB: 1. FIELDING Outfield assists: Curtis (Ensberg at 2nd base).

Home runs off the bats of Brett Gardner and Alex Rodriguez set the pace for a 6-1 Yankee win over the Blue Jays.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gardner, CF	3	1	1	1	0	0	2	.333
Jackson, A, CF	2	0	1	0	0	1	1	.500
Jeter, SS	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	.333
Pena, SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Cano, 2B	2	2	1	0	0	1	0	.500
Ransom, 2B	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.000
Rodriguez, A, 3B	1	1	1	2	2	0	0	1.000
Russo, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	.000
Swisher, RF	1	1	0	1	2	1	1	.000
Curtis, RF	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Duncan, S, DH	3	0	0	0	0	2	4	.000
a-Montero, PH-DH	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.500
Miranda, 1B	3	0	1	1	0	2	1	.333
Leone, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Linden, LF	3	0	1	1	0	1	3	.333
Rodriguez, J, LF	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	.500
Cash, C	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	.667
Pilittere, C	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Totals	37	6	11	6	5	13	22
a-Singled for Duncan, S in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Cano (1, Bauer), Jackson, A (1, Hayhurst). HR: Gardner (1, 1st inning off Cecil, 0 on, 0 out), Rodriguez, A (1, 4th inning off Romero, R, 1 on, 0 out). TB: Gardner 4; Jackson, A 2; Jeter; Cano 2; Rodriguez, A 4; Montero; Miranda; Linden; Rodriguez, J; Cash 2. RBI: Gardner (1), Rodriguez, A 2 (2), Linden (1), Swisher (1), Miranda (1). 2-out RBI: Linden. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Gardner; Russo 2; Pilittere. GIDP: Linden. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Cash (1, 2nd base off Burres/Thigpen). FIELDING E: Gardner (1, throw), Pena (1, throw), Leone (1, fielding), Russo (1, throw).

According to multiple news sources, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi discussed with spring training reporters his plans build his lineup around Alex Rodriguez:

"I went back and forth a little bit," Girardi said. "I just know from catching and managing, you hate teams that do that left-right to you. It's hard to bring in situational lefties. Obviously, [Teixeira] is a plus, because he's a switch-hitter.

"If you want to bring in a righty to face Derek Jeter, you've got to decide what you want to do against Tex. It just makes it harder to navigate through our lineup and set up an opposing team's bullpen."

According to multiple news sources, Yankee starter Chien-Ming Wang threw off the mound for the first time since injuring his foot while running the bases in Houston last season.

Wang was able to comfortably throw twenty seven pitches, as pitching coach Dave Eiland looked on:

"He's full go for spring training," Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland said. "He felt strong. He really looked good. A good day for him."

Wang will join a new-look Yankee rotation this spring, as the Yankees rebuilt through free agency after failing to make the playoffs last season.