KISSIMMEE, Fla. ¬— Whatever Masahiro Tanaka turns into on the mound, there are no signs he is on his own program.
Scheduled to throw a simulated game Tuesday, the $175 million investment was asked his feelings about working a simulated game instead of a regular exhibition tilt.
“I go out and play whatever the manager says,’’ Tanaka said Saturday through a translator at Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field, where he threw a 33-pitch bullpen session. “I am OK with it.’’
Manager Joe Girardi went out to talk to the umpires when it appeared Astros right fielder George Springer caught Brett Gardner’s fly in the fourth inning but didn’t challenge the ruling. Girardi was on the walkie-talkie back to the people watching in the clubhouse several times.
“I am not going to challenge just to challenge,’’ Girardi said. “I am going to do what we are going to do in the season.’’
With the replay process in the very early stages, Girardi has instructed his players to play on even if they believe the third out of an inning has been recorded.
“Play for four outs,’’ Girardi said. “If they stop [running], they are going to be put at the last base. If they keep running, [the umpires] will make a judgment.”
Ivan Nova gave up two runs and four hits in the first inning, when he couldn’t get his pitches down in the strike zone, but Girardi didn’t mind the problems.
“A lot of his outings so far have been easy,’’ the manager said of his No. 4 starter, who gave up three runs and eight hits in four innings of a 9-6 Yankees victory. “Today he struggled and did a good job of finding himself.’’
Manuel Banuelos’ first game action since early in the 2012 minor league season wasn’t impressive from a numbers standpoint, but the lefty and Girardi thought it was a milestone.
“I am very happy,’’ the soon-to-be 23-year-old, who was considered the Yankees’ top pitching prospect until he underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2012 season. “After [being out] two years it was awesome to me.’’
Banuelos gave up three runs and two hits (a homer by Chris Carter) in two-thirds of an inning.
“I was happy for him to be out there, it’s been a long road back. He had a smile on his face,’’ Girardi said.
Thursday, CC Sabathia was encouraged by a cut fastball during a simulated game and vowed to throw the new pitch Tuesday against the Nationals in Viera, Fla. Saturday, during a bullpen session, the staff ace mixed in the pitch that Andy Pettitte showed him the grip for last week in Tampa.
Astros manager Bo Porter challenged a first base call in the second inning, when Jonathan Villar was called out trying to bunt his way on base. The call on the field was upheld.
Friday night Girardi said Kelly Johnson would get a crack at playing first base soon since the Yankees are looking for a back up to Mark Teixeira.
Johnson, the starting third baseman who was the DH against the Astros Saturday at Osceola Stadium, took ground balls at first prior to the game.
He hit a two-run homer in the third.
Lefty reliever Fred Lewis is among a group of relievers who have impressed Girardi early in the exhibition season and is firmly in the mix for a spot in the bullpen.
“He is a guy you are not going to be worried about putting against right-handers,’’ Girardi said of the former 47th-round draft pick out of NAIA Tennessee Wesleyan, who started his college career at Daytona (Junior College) and had Tommy John surgery while in school. “He gets a lot of ground balls.’’
Lewis worked a scoreless inning Saturday.
Cesar Cabral opened camp as the leading candidate to be the second lefty in Girardi’s pen behind Matt Thornton. But Lewis, 27, has worked 4¹/₃ scoreless innings in four games, walked one and fanned four.
Infielder Brendan Ryan is expected back some time this coming week.
“We think he will be fine next week, the MRI [exam] was good,’’ Girardi said of Ryan, who informed the club Thursday he had discomfort in the back or side area.
Derek Jeter started the exhibition season hitless in 10 at-bats and will start Sunday’s game against the Rays at GMS 4-for-14.
“He is starting to swing the bat a little bit better,’’ Girardi said. “A lot of times spring training [numbers] don’t make sense how a guy starts the season. All hitters get a little more comfortable when they get around 14, 15 at-bats.’’