MLB

DUNCAN, CABRERA MAKE APPEALING DECISION

TAMPA – Shelley Duncan and Melky Cabrera are going to appeal their three-game suspensions handed out for their involvement in last Wednesday’s incident against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Duncan was also fined $3,000 for a cleat-high slide into second baseman Akinori Iwamura and Cabrera was socked with a $2,500 penalty for hitting Evan Longoria in the back of the head – something Cabrera says didn’t happen.

“I didn’t hit nobody,” said Cabrera, who hasn’t viewed the tape MLB used as evidence against the center fielder. “I don’t know [where] it’s coming from.”

Duncan also wants the chance to tell his side.

“To give Bob Watson and MLB a chance to hear the story from my eyes is pretty important to me,” he said.

Duncan crushed a two-run homer off reigning Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia in the second inning of yesterday’s 7-6 win over the Indians at Legends Field and didn’t miss a grand slam by much the following frame.

If the suspensions stand, Cabrera and Duncan could miss the first three games of the regular season. However, because Duncan is considered a spare outfielder, that would leave the Yankees with only three outfielders – Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu. Expect the Yankees to howl long and loud if Cabrera and Duncan are suspended at the same time.

In addition to Duncan and Cabrera being fined, Joe Girardi was docked $1,000 and coaches Kevin Long and Bobby Meacham were fined $500. Tampa Bay’s Jonny Gomes, who shoved Duncan, was fined $2,000.

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Chien-Ming Wang’s spring ERA is an obese 8.44, but the Yankees’ Opening Day starter couldn’t care less about the bloated numbers that include 15 hits in 102/3 innings.

“I am not into stats,” said Wang, who gave up four runs and six hits, walked two and struck out seven in 41/3 innings against the Indians, the team that spanked him twice in last year’s ALDS. “Spring training is a time for tune-up and work on pitches.”

One of those pitches is a change-up Wang predicts he will throw about 10 times a game this season after limiting himself to “two or three” a year ago.

“The slider and change-up are getting better,” said Wang, whose signature pitch remains a turbo sinker that was very good yesterday.

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Nick Green’s one-out, two-run single in the ninth carried the Yankees to the win over the Indians and improved their record to 8-7. Right-hander Scott Patterson’s effort to secure a spot in the bullpen continued when he didn’t allow a run in 12/3 innings.

When the Yankees travel to Virginia Tech tomorrow, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera will work in a minor league game at the complex and will be joined by Matsui. . . . Andy Pettitte makes his first start since March 7 today against the Red Sox at Legends Field.