DUNEDIN, Fla.
[b]George McGinnis Jersey[/b] . -- Carlos Beltran homered for his first hit this spring, leading the New York Yankees past the Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 on Sunday. Jose Bautista hit his second homer in exhibition play for the Blue Jays. Beltrans solo home run came in the third off reliever Todd Redmond and landed far over the right-field fence. It capped a four-run inning that included a two-run homer by Eduardo Nunez. Beltran signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Yankees in the off-season. He batted .296 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs with the St. Louis Cardinals last year. "You want to see guys swinging the bat well, obviously, but its really important at the end," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It doesnt really matter sometimes. You can be swinging the bat horrible at the end of spring training and get off to a hot start and vice versa. But its always nice to see." Bautista connected off Vidal Nuno in the first. Nuno struck out three and gave up two hits in two innings. Toronto starter Esmil Rogers tossed two innings and allowed an earned run. The right-hander gave up three hits and struck out one. Jose Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion, Melky Cabrera and Adam Lind each doubled for the Blue Jays. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter did not play. STARTING TIME Blue Jays: Rogers threw 36 pitches and worked almost-exclusively on his changeup, which he said is progressing well. "Thats what I was working for," Rogers said. "Down in the Dominican (Republic) during winter ball, I worked on my changeup and now I feel more comfortable. I got it before. The only reason is I didnt have too much confidence to throw that. Right now, I can throw anything I want." Rogers was 5-9 with a 4.77 ERA in 44 games with the Blue Jays last season. He is a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation. Yankees: Nuno said he felt as if he "got a little happy with the fastball," which led to Bautistas home run. Nuno, who is a contender for the fifth spot in the rotation, appeared in five games with the Yankees last season and made three starts. He finished 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA. "Overall, Im just pleased a little bit with how the outcome came," he said. "It was just one pitch and Bautista just hit it out. Location was good and everything. (My fastball) just got overused a little bit and I wasnt using my secondary (pitches) like I was supposed to do." TRAINERS ROOM Blue Jays: Colby Rasmus was scratched from Sundays lineup because of a stiff neck. Rasmus was set to bat seventh, but opted to sit as a precaution. He does not expect it to be a long-term issue and hopes to return in a "couple days." "I feel all right, I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Rasmus said. Anthony Gose took Rasmus place in centre field and was 0 for 3 with a strikeout. Manager John Gibbons said closer Casey Janssen had an MRI on his sore right shoulder, but it did not show any damage. "Its just inflamed," Gibbons said. "Theres a lot of wear and tear on a guy over the years. Hes smart, backed off and well give him a little breather. Theres still a full month (of spring training) left. Hell be ready to go." Janssen, who saved 34 games for the Blue Jays last season, said he plans to rest and start throwing again in a few days. Yankees: Girardi said first baseman Mark Teixeira, limited to 15 games last season because of a right wrist injury, might play in his first spring training game on Thursday or Friday. Alfonso Soriano, recovering from flu-like symptoms, went through a workout Sunday morning that included batting practice and defensive drills. The outfielder/designated hitter could play in his first exhibition game in the next few days. FIRE DRILL The Yankees dealt with a minor scare before the game when a towel inside of a dryer caught fire in the grounds crew clubhouse located next door to the teams clubhouse. Girardi joked that "it got a little smoky" and said some players evacuated. There was no reported damage or injuries. PINEDA PITCHES Yankees fifth starter candidate Michael Pineda, who missed the past two seasons after right shoulder surgery, threw 21 of 35 pitches for strikes in a simulated game. He faced 10 batters, allowing two hits, striking out one and walking his final two hitters. Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda are scheduled to pitch in Fridays game against the Tigers in Tampa.
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[b]Jarred Vanderbilt Jersey[/b] . -- Dee Ford prefers to keep things simple: Play hard and fast, and let others worry about his NFL draft stock.TSN.ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Rankings were weighted evenly between separate lists made by TSN Radio host and soccer analyst Gareth Wheeler as well as TSN.cas soccer editors. 1. Chelsea Willian, Ramires and eventually Jose Mourinho were all sent off as Chelsea fell to Aston Villa 1-0. The league leaders are still four points clear of Liverpool, but the Reds have a game in hand. 2. Manchester City Goals by David Silva and Edin Dzeko helped Manchester City overcome a 10th minute red card to Vincent Kompany, as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Hull City. 3. Liverpool Steven Gerrard scored twice from the penalty spot and Luis Suarez also found the net as Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Gerrard had a third attempt at a penalty and just missed picking up Liverpools first hat trick at Old Trafford since 1936. 4. Arsenal A Tomas Rosicky rocket in the second minute was enough to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the North London Derby. This was the Gunners first victory at White Hart Lane since 2007. 5. Everton Seamus Coleman scored with the last kick of the match to give his Everton side a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City. Gerard Deulofeu also scored for Everton. 6. Tottenham Tottenham spent 88 minutes trying to overcome conceding a second minute marker but were not able to find an equalizer in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the latest North London Derby. 7. Manchester United It was a tough day at Old Trafford for Manchester United as they fell 3-0 to Liverpool. Two of the three goals were scored from the penalty spot, while the third penalty they gave up was rattled off the post. 8. Southampton Morgan Schneiderlin, Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Sam Gallagher all found the score sheet as Southampton defeated Norwich City 4-2. 9. Newcastle United Newcastle were not able to find a way past Fulhamm keeper David Stockdale as they fell 1-0 to Fulham.
[b]Emmanuel Mudiay Jersey[/b]. Manager Alan Pardew served the first match of the ban he received for his headbutt of Hull midfielder David Meyler. 10. Aston Villa Fabian Delphs 82nd minute marker was the difference as Aston Villa picked up a big 1-0 victory over Chelsea. Villas goal came against a 10-man Chelsea squad that was reduced to nine before fulltime. 11. Stoke City Peter Odemwingies brace and Marko Arnautovics winner helped Stoke to a 3-1 victory over West Ham United. 12. Hull City Hull City was not able to take advantage of a Manchester City 10th minute red card as they dropped a 2-0 game. David Meyler and Jake Livermore both had chances but could not get their side on the board. 13. West Ham United Andy Carroll scored his first goal of the season but it wasnt enough as West Ham slumped to a 3-1 loss at the hands of Stoke City. 14. Swansea City Roland Lamah opened the scoring for Swansea in the second minute but it wasnt enough as the home side fell 2-1 to West Bromwich Albion. 15. West Bromwich Albion Stephane Sessegnon scored in the 52nd minute and Youssuf Mulumbu fired home the winner in the 85th as the Baggies knocked off Swansea 2-1 16. Norwich City It was a 4-2 defeat for Norwich City at the hands of Southampton as Johan Elmander and Robert Snodgrass scored in the losing cause. 17. Sunderland Fabio Borinis late winner was turned away by the crossbar as Sunderland and Crystal Palace played to a 0-0 draw. 18. Crystal Palace Keeper Julian Speroni was forced into an important save to help Palace gain a point in their matchup against Sunderland in a scoreless draw. 19. Fulham Ashkan Dejagah scored in the 68th minute to lead Fulham to a 1-0 victory over Newcastle. The substitute scored eight minutes after entering the game. 20. Cardiff City Cala scored for Cardiff but it wasnt enough as they fell 2-1 at the hands of Everton. ' ' '
