FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manager Joe Girardi won his first challenge Saturday when he got a call overturned in the bottom of the third inning of the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Twins.
After Francisco Cervelli’s throw appeared to beat Aaron Hicks to second on an attempted steal, Girardi used the new challenge system to appeal the play.
Managers have been uncertain exactly how the system is going to work during the regular season, since major league parks have much more technology than most of the stadiums spring training games are played in, but Girardi said he was optimistic it would be for the best.
On Saturday, he slowly went out to argue the call to give Brett Weber, the team’s baseball operations assistant, time to look at the replay on TV. Weber then relayed a message via a walkie-talkie to bench coach Tony Pena, who signaled to Girardi that he should challenge the call.
The reversal was made just 44 seconds later.
“I haven’t lost faith in the system,” Girardi said of the spring training glitches. “I think it’s going to work good.”
Especially when it turns out he was correct after he lost his previous challenge, when Brian Roberts correctly was called out on a grounder on March 12.
“You’ve got a chance,” Girardi said. “It feels pretty good, actually. No one wants to be wrong.”
Derek Jeter, who fouled two balls off his surgically-repaired left ankle in Friday night’s game, said he was “all good” Saturday after taking batting practice in Tampa. … Jacoby Ellsbury (tight right calf) also took BP and Girardi said he finally could return Tuesday when the Yankees play at home.
Kelly Johnson, who figures to get the bulk of playing time at third base this season, got the start at first base, where he also could backup Mark Teixeira.
Girardi said he doesn’t feel the need to give Johnson much time at second base, because “he knows how to play there.”
Girardi also said he isn’t worried about putting Johnson in too many places, because he played in the outfield and every position other than shortstop in the infield in 2013 with Tampa Bay.
“I think he’ll move around less for me than he did last year,” Girardi said. “He’s used to doing it.”
Though Johnson has often been used in a utility role in his career, Girardi added he has “a clean slate” and could play regularly.
“It’s something we’ll definitely look at because he’s had some success off lefties,” Girardi said of the left-handed hitting Johnson.
Scott Sizemore played third Saturday and had a two-run single, but also made an error.
Hiroki Kuroda pitched in a minor league game in Tampa and had no problems. Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren , still at least nominally in contention for the fifth starter spot with Michael Pineda and David Phelps , each threw in minor league games earlier in the week. The decision should be made soon.
“We’ll probably talk about it after [Sunday’s] game,” Girardi said. “Maybe Tuesday we’ll announce it.”
Yankees Training Day
Knock on wood
One day after Derek Jeter fouled a pair of balls off his surgically-repaired left ankle, Francisco Cervelli got hit by a pitch off the right hand he broke last season then had a foul ball go off him while he was behind the plate.
Like Jeter, Cervelli escaped unscathed.
“Nothing’s going to happen this year,” Cervelli said after going 0-for-2 in the Yankees 5-4 win over the Twins in Fort Myers, Fla.
Then he knocked on his wooden locker.
Short story
With Brendan Ryan out with a pinched nerve in his back, Eduardo Nunez got another start at shortstop and though he didn’t make any errors, he was unable to make a good play on a Kurt Suzuki grounder that went for a hit.
Sunday’s schedule
Michael Pineda can help himself lock down the final spot in the rotation when he starts against Toronto at 1:05 p.m. in Tampa. He’s coming off an outing in which he pitched 4 ¹/₃ scoreless innings.
Caught my eye
The Yankees had batting practice on a field adjacent to Steinbrenner Field for some of the players who didn’t make the trek to Fort Myers.
Six of them: Mark Teixeira, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano, will make more than $82 million combined this season. That includes the Yankees being on the hook for just $5 million of the $18 million Soriano is owed.