Sabathia struggles in Yankees' 3-0 loss to Phillies

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) CC Sabathia didn't make it out of the second inning in his second spring training start, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 3-0 Sunday.

The 35-year-old lefty, coming off two hitless innings Tuesday against Miami, gave up three runs and five hits in 1 2-3 innings. He struck out one, walked one, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and committed a fielding error.

''You want to pitch well, obviously for sure, but for me it's just health,'' Sabathia said. ''Feeling like I can keep my delivery and make good pitches. I feel like I'm on the right track.''

Sabathia was 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA last year, when he was slowed by his surgically repaired right knee. After returning from the disabled list and using a tighter brace, he went 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in his last five starts.

''He struggled,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ''His command wasn't very good. I don't make too much out of one start, but if it becomes a pattern then you worry about it. You want to see improvement next time.''

Ryan Howard went 1 for 3 with an RBI double off Sabathia in the first. The slugger is 2 for 18 overall.

Adam Morgan, bidding for a rotation spot, allowed one hit over four impressive innings against a regular Yankees lineup that was missing only Alex Rodriguez and Brett Gardner.

Morgan also faced the Yankees on March 3, giving up two runs and two hits over two innings.

''It's kind of cool,'' Morgan said. ''For the first outing I had against them, it was definitely a learning experience. So I had a good idea for a couple guys. I was trying to keep the ball down.''

STARTING TIME

Phillies: Brett Oberholtzer followed Morgan and gave up four hits over three innings.

Yankees: Michael Pineda also pitched, striking out four and allowing one hit in three innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: RHPs Jeremy Hellickson and Charlie Morton, both scratched from starts last week due to the flu, pitched in minor league games.

Yankees: C Brian McCann exited with left knee stiffness and might not play until Wednesday. He was hurt when Sabathia hit Howard with a pitch in the second inning and the ball ricocheted off the slugger and struck the catcher on the inside of the knee. ... Gardner batted nine times in his first simulated game since bruising his left wrist in last year's AL wild-card loss to Houston. He could play in Wednesday's game against Toronto. ... After the game, the Yankees optioned LHP Jacob Lindgren to Triple-A and reassigned him to minor league camp. They also sent top prospects Jorge Mateo and Aaron Judge to minor league camp.

BACK OF THE BULLPEN

Yankees relievers Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances gave up a combined one hit in 2 1-3 innings.

After hitting two batters and walking a pair in his spring training debut Thursday, Chapman struck out three and walked one. Betances struck out the only batter he faced, Darin Ruf, with the bases loaded to end the second. Miller allowed a double in the third.

A trainer went out to check on Chapman after he landed awkwardly while throwing a pitch, but both Chapman and Girardi said everything is fine.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Alec Asher will face Baltimore RHP Yovani Gallardo on Monday.

Yankees: Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira are scheduled to make the trip Tuesday night to face new Boston ace David Price. Ivan Nova will pitch for the Yankees.