Injured outfielders continue to improve

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees got good news about two injured outfielders.

Curtis Granderson went 1 for 4 after missing two games because of right elbow soreness but the Yankees lost 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

“Curtis was great,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Granderson, the designated hitter, singled in the third. The center fielder was in the lineup in center field against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

New York right fielder Nick Swisher, out with a groin injury, hit in a minor league game for the second straight day.

Rotation candidate Ivan Nova pitched in a Triple-a game instead of facing the Orioles, giving up three runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings. The Yankees play their second series of the regular season at Baltimore.

“He looked pretty good,” Girardi said of Nova, a 16-game winner last season. “I think you have to look at everything, but you also have to look at his body of work from last year, too.”

New York closer Mari- ano Rivera gave up his second hit this spring during a scoreless sixth. The right-hander has not allowed a run in seven innings overall, and also extended his streak of not allowing an earned run in spring training — dating back to 2008 — to 28 consecutive innings.

Raul Ibanez hit a long solo homer off Hammel and added an RBI single.

New York has four pitchers, Nova, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia and Michael Pineda competing for three starting slots behind opening-day starter CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda.

“We’re just not quite there yet,” Girardi said. “Yankeeland, it’s wins. We’ve got to do what’s best for this year.”

Hughes is considered a frontrunner for one spot. Garcia pitched in the minors Friday, while Pineda goes against Philadelphia in the big league game.

“I think these starts at the end are a lot more important than the one’s at the beginning,” Girardi said.