Major League Baseball

Braves 6, Yankees 2

Published Mar. 11, 2011 10:40 p.m. ET

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Tommy Hanson wasn't totally happy with his latest start despite a positive outcome.

Hanson had his third consecutive solid outing, allowing one run and five hits in four innings and the Atlanta Braves beat a New York Yankees split squad 6-2 on Friday.

''So-so,'' Hanson said. ''I don't think there's anything, really, too special about that one. Changeup didn't feel too good. Fastball, slider felt OK. Command felt all right.''

Hanson had given up two hits over five scoreless innings in his previous two outings.

Chipper Jones had a RBI single and Jordan Schafer homered for Atlanta. Schafer also had a bunt single.

''It's got to be nice to come to the ballpark knowing you can get, at least, one by just being able to put the ball in play or bunting,'' Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Schafer.

New York starter Phil Hughes was touched for two runs and seven hits in four innings.

''Overall, it was a decent outing,'' Hughes said. ''I'm hoping to build on this one and be a little bit better next time.''

Yankees captain Derek Jeter went 1 for 3, and is hitting .333 overall (8 for 24). He is working on eliminating the stride of his front foot while batting.

''At this point, I'm happy,'' Jeter said. ''It's going to take a while before you're 100 percent comfortable with it.''

New York manager Joe Girardi, before departing for a road spilt-squad game against Toronto, said he is happy with Jeter's progress.

''I think he's hit the ball hard,'' Girardi said. ''There's still some things he's working on. I think he's been pretty good.''

Yogi Berra was back at the ballpark, one day after he tripped and fell in the clubhouse while going to get a bowl of a soup.

The 85-year-old Hall of Famer, a New York spring training instructor, caught one of his sneakers on the carpet and fell at Philadelphia's complex, where the Yankees played the Phillies on Thursday. Berra went by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution after landing on his backside and was released about four hours later.

''I didn't like the soup,'' said Berra, who watched the game from a suite with his wife Carmen. ''I feel fine.''

New York got a solo homer from Jorge Posada.

Rafael Soriano, the primary eighth-inning setup man for closer Mariano Rivera, struck out two during a perfect fifth. He has thrown two scoreless innings overall.

Girardi confirmed that Rivera, who has taken a slower approach in recent years in preparation for the season, will pitch for the first time Sunday. The right-hander, who normally throws six to eight innings during spring training, had a bullpen session.

''Mo is one of the few guys you kind of allow to tell us when he's ready,'' Girardi said

Atlanta's Kenshin Kawakami, who got a late start this spring due to visa problems, walked one during a scoreless inning in his first appearance.

''I thought he was good,'' Gonzalez said, ''I thought he threw the ball well for the first time out.''

NOTES: Atlanta minor league manager Luis Salazar continues his recovery at an Orlando-area hospital. He was hit in the face by Brian McCann's foul liner while standing in the dugout during Wednesday's game. Doctors are still evaluating injuries to the left eye. The team is expected to provide an update this weekend. ... Yankees ace CC Sabathia felt fine one day getting hit on the inner right thigh by a hard grounder. ... Kawakami has been in communication by e-mail with family members in Japan, which had an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and an accompanying tsunami. ... Yankees LHP Kei Igawa was excused from Friday's workout to attempt to contact his family. The team has told Igawa he can leave camp and return to Japan if he needs to.

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