By DANA WAKIJI
FOX Sports Detroit
Feb. 28, 2011
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Neither Justin Verlander nor Rick Porcello is in midseason form, but both are pretty much where they need to be after their first spring outing.
Verlander started Monday's game against the New York Yankees, a game the Tigers won 6-2, and threw two scoreless innings. They weren't perfect innings as he allowed two hits and walked two while striking out one, but that isn't what's important at this point.
"My bullpens were really good," Verlander said. "I felt like live BP (batting practice) I took a slight step backwards, maybe trying to do a little bit too much and getting out of my mechanics a little bit. I felt like today my main goal was just to stay in rhythm, not get jumpy and do too much."
Verlander admitted it was a little odd to be facing the Yankees, who brought guys such as Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez to Lakeland.
Verlander will be the starter for the opener in New York March 31.
"Not trying to show them too much, but trying to get my work in," he said. "After the first inning, I threw primarily fastballs, then the second inning wanted to work on my curveball a little bit. I walked (Russell) Martin, felt like the first one was a little bit lazy, the second one was real good, just out of the zone. I think from there on, I had a pretty decent feel for it, threw some pretty good ones after that."
Porcello also had two scoreless innings. His first inning, the third, was a perfect 1-2-3 with a strikeout of Cano, but he ran into trouble in the fourth.
Alex Rodriguez doubled leading off, then Andruw Jones struck out swinging. Again, Martin earned a walk. Francisco Cervelli singled, loading the bases. Porcello then struck out Justin Maxwell swinging and got Melky Mesa to fly out to end the threat.
"Body and arm felt good," Porcello said. "Kind of lost my arm slot a little bit there in the second, those couple of hits I gave up. I fell behind a little bit. Overall I felt good. A couple minor adjustments to make, but ball's coming out pretty good, felt like I had some life on it. Take what I need to work on, work on it and get ready for the next one."
Porcello, 22, was glad to see some of the Yankees' toughest hitters, even though it's still early.
"Those guys are good enough, you can tell what kind of reaction you get from them, whether it's a good pitch or it's got some life," Porcello said. "I was happy I got to face those guys."
Now Porcello has a good idea of what he needs to work on for the rest of the spring.
"Getting that consistent arm slot," he said. "Game-like repetitions in the bullpen is big for me. Not just going through the motions but focusing, acting like it's a game so that when I get into the game it's second nature and it carries over. I just gotta kind of get that feel for the slider. The break on it was good but a couple of them I left up, just little things like that."
Furbush still one to watch
The Yankees didn't score until left-hander Charlie Furbush got into the game in the fifth inning, but he wasn't upset by that.
"That was fun, had a good time," Furbush said. "Results weren't there, I left the ball up a couple times but that's what that type of hitter will do when that happens."
Jeter singled to lead off, then Cano flew out. Teixeira doubled to left-centerfield to score Jeter for a 1-0 lead. Furbush got Rodriguez swinging but Jones drove in Teixeira with a base hit.
Manager Jim Leyland wasn't displeased at all.
"He got the big boys there right away and they centered a few on him -- welcome to the big leagues," Leyland said. "But he did fine, he bounced back. So far from what I've seen from him, I like him a lot. A little funky and got good stuff."
Schlereth, Santos first casualties of spring
Daniel Schlereth was the first injury of the spring, one he hopes won't keep him out long.
When trying to cover first base on a double-play attempt in the eighth inning, Schlereth reached for the bag and strained his left hamstring. He limped to the dugout and left the game shortly thereafter.
"He was hurt," Leyland said. "I think usually when you see those, sometimes it's a look of pain and other times it's a look of frustration. I think it was a little bit of both."
Schlereth, who has an excellent chance to make the team now that lefty Phil Coke has joined the rotation, classified the injury as "minor" when speaking with reporters later.
Omir Santos, a minor league catcher, fouled a pitch off his foot and was taken for X-rays of his left big toe.
Offensive stars
Ryan Strieby (two), Andy Dirks (one), Danny Worth (one), Scott Sizemore (one) and Cale Iorg accounted for the Tigers' six runs. Iorg hit his first home run off D.J. Mitchell in the eighth on a 1-1 pitch.
