Pineda strong again, Yankees beat Tigers 4-1

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Michael Pineda pitched three hitless innings and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 Saturday in a split-squad game.

Pineda struck out four, including three in the second inning, and walked one. He retired eight in a row before walking and then picking Andrew Romine off first base.

''I'm happy,'' Pineda said. ''My changeup and all my pitches were very good. The command is still good.''

Pineda went 5-5 with a 1.89 ERA in 13 starts last season after missing the previous two years due to right shoulder surgery. He gave up one hit and had two strikeouts over two scoreless innings in his first exhibition start Monday against Tampa Bay.

''Michael believes in himself,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi before departing for the road split-squad game with Toronto. I think he has faith in what he's doing. He's a big part of our rotation. Thirty to 32 starts from him would be outstanding.''

Rajai Davis doubled in two at-bats for the Tigers. J.D. Martinez went 0 for 4.

OH, BROTHER

This was the first time Andrew Romine and his brother, Yankees catcher Austin Romine, were in a major league starting lineup together. Austin was behind the plate when Andrew batted in the third.

''We're not real, like, chit-chatty,'' Andrew said. ''I kind of said, `Hey, what's up?' And then when I got in the box, he was still talking and I told him, `All right, that's enough, stop talking. Get out of my head.'''

After a walk, Austin Romine said he was disappointed not to get a chance to throw his brother out trying to steal a base.

''Had a blast,'' Austin said. ''I wanted him to go because I wanted to throw him out and rag on him.''

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Alfredo Simon will start Sunday's game against Miami.

Yankees: RHP Nathan Eovaldi is the scheduled starter for Sunday's game with Philadelphia.

STARTING TIME

Tigers: LHP Kyle Lobstein gave up one run and three hits in three innings.

Yankees: Pineda threw 24 of 34 pitches for strikes.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: C Alex Avila remains out with a back injury.

Yankees: LHP CC Sabathia (knee surgery) had a 35-pitch bullpen session in preparation for his first start Tuesday night against Toronto. ... RHP Andrew Bailey threw 18 pitches in his second simulated game since right shoulder surgery in July 2013 and is nearing his first game. ''I haven't felt this good in a long time,'' he said. ... Top prospect RHP Luis Severino made 32 pitches in his first bullpen session since missing a few days with strep throat.

CLOSING TIME

Dellin Betances, a top candidate to be the Yankees' closer, gave up his first run in three games during the fourth when Davis doubled, went to third on a balk and scored on Josh Wilson's grounder.

''Stuff-wise, I wasn't where I needed to be,'' Betances said.

Andrew Miller, also in the mix for the ninth-inning role, struck out two in a perfect fifth.