Domonic Brown hit his sixth homer of the spring, Kyle Kendrick threw six impressive innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 4-1 Tuesday.
Those who came to see Jeter play his first road game of the spring left disappointed because the Yankees captain was scratched from New York's lineup for "precautionary" reasons because of stiffness in his surgically repaired left ankle. He said he's day to day.
"I'm not concerned because I was told this was going to happen," Jeter said, adding he would've played if it were a regular-season game. "From everything I've been told by the doctors, it's normal."
Manager Joe Girardi told reporters afterward that Jeter went back to Tampa to see a doctor.
"I haven't heard anything," Girardi said. "We'll find out what we're dealing with and go from there."
Jeter broke his left ankle in Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit. The 13-time All-Star shortstop played in his first spring game on March 9 and is 3 for 11 so far.
"It's just stiff but it's not in the part that I broke; it's around it," Jeter said. "I was told I'm going to feel it around the ankle because I was in a boot for so long. It takes time to strengthen. It's normal, just have to deal with it and move on."
The 38-year-old Jeter led the American League with 216 hits and batted .316 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs last year. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday morning Jeter might begin the season as a designated hitter against Boston if the Red Sox start a left-handed pitcher.
"When you're dealing with a rehab coming back from injury, you're going to have some ups and downs," Girardi said. "Very seldom do you come back from a rehab and it goes completely smooth. It's really went well up until this point. We've had a lot a lot of good days."
Kendrick allowed one unearned run and two hits, striking out three.
"He was aggressive. He looked like he wanted to pitch," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He mixed his pitches, changed speeds. His location was good."
Brown's torrid hitting this spring has all-but-officially assured himself a starting spot in the outfield. Brown is hitting .397.
Ryan Howard hit his fifth homer of the spring, continuing his comeback after playing less than half the season in 2012 following surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon.
Yankees lefty Boone Logan, who had been out with an elbow injury, struck out two in a scoreless inning in his first appearance this spring. New York starter Adam Warren allowed two runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings.
"That's what I was expecting to do," Logan said. "I wanted to go out and get the job done."
The Yankees have been beset by injuries this spring.
Third baseman Alex Rodriguez is expected to be sidelined until at least the All-Star break following hip surgery on Jan. 16. Center fielder Curtis Granderson broke his arm in his first exhibition at-bat and is out until May. First baseman Mark Teixeira has a partially torn tendon sheath in his right wrist and could miss up to two months of the regular season.
"I believe in the guys we're going to put on the field." Girardi said. "I believe we're still talented, even though we've got injuries to deal with and you find a way to get it done."
NOTES: Phillies RHP Roy Halladay said he's lost about 10 pounds in two days because of a stomach virus that cut his Sunday start short after one inning. Halladay still expects to be ready to pitch in the first series vs. Atlanta. ... The Phillies reassigned RHP Rodrigo Lopez to minor-league camp and are down to 35 players. ... Jimmy Rollins singled in his first at-bat with the Phillies since returning from the World Baseball Classic with Team U.S. ... Yankees RHP Joba Chamberlain retired the only batter he faced, striking out Michael Young looking to end the fourth
