Sabathia strikes out 8 in Yankees' win; A-Rod homers

4:12 PM, March 19, 2010 ι POST STAFF REPORT

CC Sabathia struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings today in the Yankees' 6-2 split-squad win over the Tigers.

Sabathia walked two, throwing 77 pitches (47 strikes). He exited with one run charged to him on four hits. Jonathan Albaladejo allowed one of his two inherited runners to score.

“I felt a lot better, the off-speed stuff was good, the changeup was good and the fastball command was good,’’ Sabathia said. "The last two times out it has been better than it was before.’’

Mariano Rivera made his second spring appearance in the sixth, and needed 10 pitches to finish the seventh inning with no hits and a strikeout.

Alex Rodriguez hit his first homer, a towering drive over the scoreboard in left in the third off Rick Porcello, who was charged with four runs — one earned — and four hits over three innings.

“That one felt really good because it wasn’t an every day home run,’’ Rodriguez said. "I knew it was over the first fence.’’

Derek Jeter, who had a two-run single in the second, was in the lineup and said his throwing hand is fine. He flexed the hand several times after diving for a ball in the fourth inning Thursday night but remained in the game.

With George A. King III; newyorkyankees.com; AP