MLB

Yankees’ Sabathia to pitch vs. Marlins in Panama

TAMPA — CC Sabathia is making the trip to Panama City next week and will pitch against the Marlins a week from Sunday at Rod Carew Stadium.

The two-game series is being played to honor Mariano Rivera, a native of Panama.

Also going from the Yankees are Derek Jeter, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano and Adam Warren.

The venue won’t be new for Sabathia.

“Two or three years ago Andruw Jones had a charity softball game and we played it at the stadium,’’ said Sabathia, who played first base in that game.

Rivera didn’t ask Sabathia to attend, but the pitcher wanted to show baseball’s all-time closer respect.

“When I heard about it I wanted to go. I played five years with him and I wanted a chance to go there,’’ Sabathia said.

While Joe Girardi will manage the club in Panama, third base coach Rob Thomson will run the Yankees team that will play the Twins and Orioles on the same days the Bombers play the Marlins.


Tigers pitcher Luis Marte ended Friday night’s game with a balk in the bottom of the ninth inning. With Zelous Wheeler on third and one out, Marte balked while throwing to third base, which wasn’t covered. Wheeler scored and the Yankees won 3-2.

Hiroki Kuroda started and provided 2 ²/₃ shutout innings. Jeter went 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored and Carlos Beltran swatted a two-run homer.


Girardi said Masahiro Tanaka will pitch a simulated game Tuesday and make a start on March 16.


Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Rich Bisaccia visited Yankees camp Friday and spoke to the team before the game against the Tigers.


Having never played a big league game in right field, Alfonso Soriano was there Friday night.

And Soriano, who has played more games in left field than any other position, has been taking ground balls at first base.

“We kicked it around a little bit,’’ Girardi said of Soriano working out at first base. “It is something we will think about.’’

With Kelly Johnson, the starting third baseman these days, also thought of as Mark Teixeira’s backup at first, the Yankees are looking at all possibilities. Johnson will play first Sunday against the Rays at GMS Field.

“He has played the infield and it will give us a chance to DH someone besides one of our outfielders,’’ Girardi said of Soriano, who played second base before being moved to the outfield during his first Yankees stint. “I think he is athletic enough to do it. It’s just having more flexibility than anything else since we don’t really have one DH.’’

While some thought the Yankees could use Soriano to replace Robinson Cano at second, Girardi wasn’t one of them.

“It never crossed my mind,’’ the manager said.


Shortstop Brendan Ryan will be out until the middle of next week according to Girardi. Ryan told the club Thursday that he had some discomfort in his side.