Major League Baseball

Heisman winner Winston goes 0 for 2 versus Yankees

Published Feb. 25, 2014 4:31 p.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston grounded out to second and struck out looking in Florida State's 8-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Winston entered in left field in the fifth inning and hit a groundball on an 0-2 pitch from minor leaguer Shane Greene during the sixth. In the eighth, Winston took a full-count pitch from Bryan Mitchell for a called third strike.

''The favorite part of the day was just being out here,'' Winston said. ''Being around a bunch of big league guys, and they proved it. They beat us.''

The sophomore quarterback led the Seminoles football team to the national championship with a 34-31 victory over Auburn on January 6. He's made three scoreless appearances this season as a the baseball team's closer. Winston had a single in his only previously at-bat this year.

''Obviously, he's a great talent,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ''I guess he had a football injury in the championship game which kept him from hitting for a while. But he's just starting to pick up the bat again. I guess he had torn a ligament in his left index finger.''

Brett Gardner had an infield single in his lone at-bat and Brendan Ryan hit an RBI double for the Yankees, who played their spring training opener.

Joining Gardner and Ryan in the lineup were Kelly Johnson and Francisco Cervelli.

Florida State football head coach Jimbo Fisher threw the ceremonial first pitch in front of an announced crowd of 7,708 that included a large number of FSU fans.

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Highlights from Yankees camp and their win over Florida State:

STARTING TIME

Girardi announced that Masahiro Tanaka will make his debut in Saturday's game againsrt Philadelphia. Tanaka and Hiroki Kuorda will follow starter CC Sabathia. Tanaka signed a $155 million, seven-year contract in January. He was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year while leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to the Japan Series title.

Vidal Nuno gave up one hit and struck out three in two shutout innings Tuesday. Nuno went 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA in five games, including three starts, with the Yankees last year.

TRAINER'S ROOM

New York outfielder Alfonso Soriano started on-field drills, taking 33 swings in batting practice, after missing the past five days of workouts due to the flu.

JETER METER

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter did not play Tuesday, but took batting practice and fielded grounders. Jeter, who plans to retire after this season, is set to play in his first spring training game Thursday against Pittsburgh.

PITCHING PREP

Yankees closer David Robertson threw 21 pitches in batting practice before the regular pregame workout.

''The best I've thrown at 8:30,'' Robertson said with a smile.

Robertson is taking over the ninth-inning role from all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera, who retired after last season.

NIFTY BASERUNNING: John Ryan Murphy scored from third when the plate was left uncovered as Florida State pitcher Brandon Johnson caught Gary Sanchez's foul ball at the wall near the first-base dugout. Murphy then beat Johnson to the plate.

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