SARASOTA, Fla. — Manny Machado had three hits and drove in one run, Wei-Yin Chen pitched three scoreless innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-1 on Tuesday.
Machado, who had knee surgery last August, continued his strong early spring. He’s now 6 for 14 and made a nifty pickup on a slow roller down the third base line.
“He’s been good since Day One,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “Manny’s locked in.”
Second baseman Jonathan Schoop had two hits and an RBI, and rookie Rey Navarro hit a home run in the seventh.
In his second spring start, Chen gave up one hit and walked one. He struck out two. Chen has thrown five scoreless innings.
Chase Whitley, jockeying for a place on the Yankees’ staff, pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking one, striking out one and throwing a wild pitch.
STARTING TIME
Yankees: Whitley was satisfied with his outing.
“At this point in the season, it’s good to have a game like that, I guess, to battle through and get in some situations that will come up in the season,” he said.
Orioles: Chen is now using a palmball instead of a circle change.
“Hopefully that will get my velocity more consistent. I’m going to try to see how it works,” Chen said through his translator.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: RHP CC Sabathia (knee surgery) is lined up to make his first start on March 17 against Toronto. He had a 38-pitch bullpen session and will throw in a simulated game Thursday. … 1B/OF Garrett Jones was scratched with flu-like symptoms. … RHP Andrew Bailey threw 20 pitches in his first simulated game since having right shoulder surgery in July 2013. … RHP Luis Severino missed his second day of workouts due to strep throat.
Orioles: Matt Wieters is on track to catch his first game since last June’s Tommy John surgery on March 17. He’s already throwing to the bases at what he estimates to be 70-80 percent speed.
“We’ve been doing that for about a week, maybe longer than a week now. Throwing to the bases and simulating what you might get in a game. It’s different with adrenaline when an actual base runner take off on you, but we are going to cross off as many question marks as we can before the game,” Wieters said.
Showalter isn’t worried about Wieters’ hitting. He is now hitless in 17 at-bats.
“That’s the least of my worries. It will click at some point,” Showalter said.
ALL-AROUND ALEX
Alex Rodriguez is competing for at-bats at designated hitter, but to give New York manager Joe Girardi more options has also started workouts on a back field at first base in addition to his normal time at third.
“Baby steps,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been doing it during batting practice. We’ve done it about two or three times already.”
Rodriguez didn’t travel with the team Tuesday, staying behind in Tampa for batting practice and fielding drills at third. He had played on consecutive days for the first time Sunday and Monday.
“Actually feel a little better today than I did yesterday, so that’s a good sign,” Rodriguez said. “I’m encouraged.”
SIGN THEM
Baltimore signed the remaining 16 unsigned players on its 40-man roster, including Machado, Schoop and Kevin Gausman.
UP NEXT
Yankees: LHP Chris Capuano will start against Boston RHP Joe Kelly.
Orioles: RHP Miguel Gonzalez faces Toronto RHP Drew Hutchison on Wednesday.
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