by Marc Carig
TAMPA, Fla. - The calendar may say March, but New York Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett appeared to be in midseason form on Saturday, tossing four perfect innings to help the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory against the Houston Astros in a split squad game at Steinbrenner Field.
Burnett showed the type of dominance that the Yankees banked on this offseason, when they signed the pitcher to a five-year, $82.5 million contract. He spotted his fastball, which touched 96 m.p.h. on the radar gun, and mixed it in with a sharp curveball.
"I felt good the entire time," said Burnett, who finished with three strikeouts.
The right-hander was so efficient -- he threw 40 pitches, 32 for strikes - that he needed to throw 10 more pitches in the bullpen just to reach his scheduled count for the day.
"The ball comes out of his hand so free and easy," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Meanwhile, two of the Yankees' top prospects helped power New York to a 13-10 victory in a another split squad against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Catching standout Jesus Montero hit a grand slam while outfielder Austin Jackson added a homer.
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