Pirates 5 Yankees 1
TAMPA — Roger Clemens’ stomach was so bad last night that he experienced dry heaves. And it had nothing to do with watching the sickly Yankee bats get dominated by the Pirates’ Kris Benson.
“I had a bad boiler,” Clemens said after going a spring-high six innings in which he gave up three runs and five hits in a 5-1 loss at Legends Field. “I didn’t feel great. I
didn’t have as much energy as I had in previous starts. It had nothing to do with my arm. My energy level was down.”
The Yankees’ output with the bats is almost off the charts. In the last three games The Men Without Bats have scored three runs and last night’s tally scored on a wild pitch.
Since George Steinbrenner, who was in Ocala last night, promised things would improve with his high-priced club on Saturday, the Yankees are 0-2. Overall, they are 5-17, have lost five straight and 10 of 11.
Benson, who threw six shutout innings, allowed two hits and fanned five.
Mike Stanton and Mariano Rivera gave up homers.
Ignoring the toss that cleared a bullpen fence, Allen Watson had a productive workout yesterday and firmly believes he is on schedule for Opening Day.
“I am ready,” Watson said following the 15-minute workout in which Watson cut it loose near the end and felt almost no sign of the inflamed bursa sac that has kept him out of games for 10 days. “I let it go and I felt great. I threw the change. I felt it a little bit when I threw my slider but just a bit.”
Watson, who had a cortisone shot a week ago Thursday, is expected to throw to live batters tomorrow at the minor league complex. If that goes well, there is a chance he will pitch in a game Friday or Saturday.
If the Yankees want Luis Sojo back they will have to make a deal with the Pirates. Two team sources said the veteran utility man is likely to make the Pirates over former Yankee Dale Sveum.
As far as the battle for utility players go, Torre said Clay Bellinger is the favorite to land one of the two jobs.
Yankees optioned pitchers Ryan Bradley and Craig Dingman to Columbus yesterday and re-assigned catcher Tom Wilson and outfielder Luke Wilcox to the minor league camp.
