Teixeira homers as Yankees top Braves

Posted Mar 28, 2009 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 28, 2009 at 07:51 PM

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Mark Teixeira is fitting in quite nicely with the New York Yankees.

The first baseman, who signed an eight-year deal worth $180 million in the offseason, hit his second spring home run and raised his Grapefruit League average to .391 as the http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/jeter-yankees-get-scare-against-braves/  target=”_top”>Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Saturday.

Teixeira was 2-for-2 and walked against Braves starter Jair Jurrjens. His homer came on the first pitch of the fifth inning and sailed well over the fence in right-center field.

“We’ve got a great lineup and I’m going to get pitches to hit all season,” Teixeira said. “We should score a lot of runs.”

Hammel throws 5 scoreless in Rays’ loss to Reds
PORT CHARLOTTE - Jason Hammel made his case to win a spot in Tampa Bay’s starting rotation, tossing five scoreless innings in thehttp://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/hammel-makes-strong-case-rotation-against-reds/ target=”_top”> Rays’ 5-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Hammel walked Willy Taveras to start the game, but picked him off first base for the first out. Hammel sailed from there, allowing just two hits and striking out four.

“I just went back to the aggressive approach that I was using early in camp,” Hammel said. “It was basically just attack. I wasn’t going to walk guys today. The one walk to Willy was pretty close.”

Wind wreaks havoc as Tigers beat Jays
DUNEDIN - Scott Richmond didn’t appear to improve his chances of making Toronto’s starting rotation, but manager Cito Gaston cut him some slack Saturday because of a gusting 30-mph wind and a shaky Blue Jays defense.

The right-hander, in the mix along with left-handers Brad Mills and Ricky Romero for the last two spots in the rotation, gave up five runs — three earned — on six hits in a four-inning 80-pitch outing as thehttp://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/wind-wreaks-havoc-tigers-beat-jays/  target=”_top”> Detroit Tigers won 5-1.

“Overall, he didn’t pitch that bad,” Gaston said of Richmond.

McCutchen’s 5-for-5 leads Pirates past Phils
BRADENTON -  Andrew McCutchen is trying to push up the timetable for his arrival in Pittsburgh.

McCutchen, the former first-round draft pick targeted to begin the season in Triple-A, homered and hit three doubles while going 5-for-5, leading Ian Snell and the http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/mccutchen-leads-pirates-past-phillies/ target=”_top”>Pirates over the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 Saturday.

“I don’t think I’ve had five hits since rookie league,” said McCutchen, who drove in two runs and scored three times. “It was amazing. I amaze myself.”