RAUL’S BLAST BUSTS SLUMP
LAKELAND, Fla. — Raul Ibañez has had a brutal spring, but he slammed a two-run home run off Detroit’s Max Scherzer Saturday, giving the veteran designated hitter a boost.
“It’s one at-bat, but the feel today was much better than it has been,” said Ibañez, who is 3-for-40 (.075) this spring. “Today felt a lot better.
“It felt good. It felt good to be able to make a left turn (to go around the bases) instead of a right turn (toward the dugout).”
“It’s good for him to get that hit like that for us, drive the ball like he’s capable of doing,” added Joe Girardi. “It’s good to see — you see a guy (exhale) a little bit, so it’s good.”
Since the Yankees are facing Tigers lefthander Duane Below Sunday in Tampa, the lefty-hitting Ibañez won’t play in the regular game, Girardi said. Instead, Ibañez will play in a game at the Yanks’ minor-league complex, where the action is controlled and Ibañez can bat multiple times, even if it’s out of turn.
“I told him to get as many as he wants, so he’s going to go down there,” Girardi said.
It’s clear to the manager that Ibañez, an affable fellow who’s had a long, successful career, was pressing over his spring struggles with his new club.
“I think that’s just the human factor that we all want to do well, and when you don’t do well, you get a little upset about it and you don’t like it,” Girardi said. “I think sometimes you put it a little bit on your shoulders. I thought his BP today was one of the better BPS I’ve seen him take, too. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it.”
DAVE’S DAY TO PITCH
David Robertson, who is recovering from a sprained foot, is slated to pitch in Sunday’s game if he feels OK after he threw live batting practice for the first time Friday. Robertson was frustrated with the location of his pitch- es in the BP session. “It wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be,” Robertson said. “I settled down the last three hitters and threw it where I wanted, but the start wasn’t up to my standards. But I hadn’t been been on a mound in a while and I hadn’t thrown to hitters, so I guess I can’t put too much on it.”
MINOR START FOR PHIL
Phil Hughes will make his next start Monday in a minor-league game at the Yankees’ development complex a mile away from Steinbrenner Field. The rest of the team is off that day.
PEN PROSPECTS
Prospect Dellin Betances was optioned to Triple-a on Saturday, and lefties Mike O’connor and Juan Cedeno were reassigned to the minor-league camp, meaning that Clay Rapada and Cesar Cabral are the two candidates for the second lefty out of the Yankee pen. Cabral threw a scoreless 10th Saturday to earn a save. He struck out six in two innings on Wednesday and now has 12 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings. He’s also allowed 10 hits. As a Rule V pick, Cabral may have an advantage because the Yanks could lose him if he doesn’t make the 25-man roster.
DOTS ALL
Girardi reiterated that it’s “possible” that Andy Pettitte pitches in a game in spring training. The Yanks are hopeful Pettitte can be ready to pitch in the rotation by May 1. . . . Francisco Cervelli fouled a ball off his left shin. “Don’t write anything — I’m fine,” Cervelli told reporters. . . . Ivan Nova will pitch in a minor-league game on Thursday while Hiroki Kuroda will face Baltimore on the same day.