by Marc Carig
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Joba Chamberlain said his velocity was back to normal, though he still wasn't as efficient as he would have liked, as the Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon.
"Good, but I've still got to be better," Chamberlain said. "But as far as velocity and just attacking the zone, I think this was a good one."
Chamberlain allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He cruised until the sixth inning, throwing shutout baseball until surrendering a pair of runs in the sixth inning. The pitcher said he still wants to be more consistent in the strike zone.
Still, it was a good day overall in a spring that's been filled with peaks and valleys for the pitcher. On Tuesday, Chamberlain said his fastball felt fine, though he hadn't seen radar gun readings.
"It could just feel it out of my hand," said Chamberlain, who was able to get swings and misses off the fastball, a rarity this spring. "I mean it just felt better. There's some where you try to force it in, and there's others that come out of your hand great."
Chamberlain will leave camp for Nebraska, where he will arraigned for a drunken-driving charge from last October.
Also around the Universe....
- Closer Mariano Rivera allowed a homer during his appearance in a minor league game. Rivera threw 21 pitches, inducing two grounders and a fly out. He also had two strikeouts. To give Rivera some extra work, he was made to retire five batters in his inning.
- Right fielder Xavier Nady is fine after being hit in the elbow with a pitch.
- Designated hitter Hideki Matsui reported to camp with a stiff neck though manager Joe Girardi said he's still in the lineup for Wednesday's finale at Steinbrenner Field.
- Brett Gardner was given the James P. Dawson Award, an annual honor given the top Yankees rookie in spring training. Gardner is hitting .390 in 24 spring games. Shelley Duncan won the award last season.
"Good, but I've still got to be better," Chamberlain said. "But as far as velocity and just attacking the zone, I think this was a good one."
Chamberlain allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He cruised until the sixth inning, throwing shutout baseball until surrendering a pair of runs in the sixth inning. The pitcher said he still wants to be more consistent in the strike zone.
Still, it was a good day overall in a spring that's been filled with peaks and valleys for the pitcher. On Tuesday, Chamberlain said his fastball felt fine, though he hadn't seen radar gun readings.
"It could just feel it out of my hand," said Chamberlain, who was able to get swings and misses off the fastball, a rarity this spring. "I mean it just felt better. There's some where you try to force it in, and there's others that come out of your hand great."
Chamberlain will leave camp for Nebraska, where he will arraigned for a drunken-driving charge from last October.
Also around the Universe....
- Closer Mariano Rivera allowed a homer during his appearance in a minor league game. Rivera threw 21 pitches, inducing two grounders and a fly out. He also had two strikeouts. To give Rivera some extra work, he was made to retire five batters in his inning.
- Right fielder Xavier Nady is fine after being hit in the elbow with a pitch.
- Designated hitter Hideki Matsui reported to camp with a stiff neck though manager Joe Girardi said he's still in the lineup for Wednesday's finale at Steinbrenner Field.
- Brett Gardner was given the James P. Dawson Award, an annual honor given the top Yankees rookie in spring training. Gardner is hitting .390 in 24 spring games. Shelley Duncan won the award last season.
Source: nj.com
