Teixeira belts first HR in 4-2 win over Twins
FORT MYERS (AP) – Mark Teixeira hit his first spring training home run for the New York Yankees, a solo drive off Joe Nathan in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins Friday.
Teixeira, a notoriously slow starter, was 11-for-28 (.393) with two RBI before his sixth-inning homer. He went 0-for-2 hitting right-handed against lefty Glen Perkins before switching to left-handed against Nathan.
Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes gave up one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out none.
He lowered his ERA to 2.19, but likely won’t have a rotation spot because the Yankees signed free agents CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and intend to start Joba Chamberlain.
Perkins allowed four hits in five scoreless innings, struck out one and walked one.
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, diagnosed with bursitis in his right shoulder, started and went 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
Designated hitter Hideki Matsui, who has been troubled with sore knees, started and went 0-for-3.
Twins shortstop Nick Punto, who was hit by a ball in the right arm while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, played for the first time in a week and went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the third inning off Hughes. Punto also hit a double.