Cabrera goes 1 for 3 in Tigers' 9-8 loss to Yankees
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Miguel Cabrera went 1 for 3 with a walk for the Detroit Tigers in his second exhibition game since returning from offseason right ankle and foot surgery, a 9-8 loss Tuesday night to the New York Yankees.
Cabrera had an opposite-field single in the first and drew a second-inning walk. He struck out to end the fourth and again leading off the seventh.
The Tigers slugger has been the designated hitter in both of his games this spring. He went 1 for 3 in his debut Sunday against Washington.
Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said Cabrera could DH in a minor league game Wednesday and "if he's fine" there's chance he could play first base for the first time Thursday against Baltimore.
Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez grounded a single to left in two at-bats and had a walk. A-Rod is hitting .286 (8 for 28) overall.
Esmil Rogers, a Yankees' fifth-starter candidate, gave up five runs and five hits in three innings.
New York manager Joe Girardi wouldn't say if the outing hurt Rogers' chances.
"I won't talk about that now," he said. "We'll sit down as a group and talk about it."
Adam Warren is also under consideration for the spot.
The Yankees scored four in the ninth, including a walk-off three-run shot by Ramon Flores off Rafael Dolis, to rally back from an 8-2 deficit.
STARTING TIME
Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez allowed two runs and four hits over five innings. He had four strikeouts and three walks.
Yankees: Rogers has given up eight runs (four earned) and 15 hits in 12 1-3 innings. ... Warren has allowed four runs and 13 hits in 13 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: DH Victor Martinez (knee surgery) got seven plate appearances in a minor league game and is scheduled to DH in his second big league exhibition game Wednesday. "His timing is a little off," Ausmus said. "It seemed the more he ran, the more comfortable he was running. He felt fine afterwards." ... LF Yoenis Cespedes was OK after running into the low wall in foul ground chasing Mark Teixeira's RBI double in the first.
Yankees: CF Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) did light sprints in the outfield and still expects to be ready for opening day. ... RHP Jared Burton (strained lat) expects to resume playing catch late this week. ... LHP Chris Capuano (strained right quadriceps) is playing catch while in a chair and is not expected back until at least May.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Alfredo Simon will face Miami RHP David Phelps in Wednesday's game.
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka gets the start Wednesday against the New York Mets and RHP Rafael Montero. The Japanese star is lined up to start the opener Apr. 6 against Toronto. "Absolutely, it will be a great honor to be able to pitch opening day," Tanaka said through an interpreter.
MOVING DAY
The Tigers optioned RHPs Alex Wilson and Josh Zeid, and LHP Kyle Lobstein to Triple-A Toledo. RHP Alberto Cabrera was sent to the minor league camp.
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