Wang throws in extended spring camp - 棒球

NEW YORK -- Skipped for this weekend's series at Fenway Park, struggling
Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang instead pitched seven innings in an
extended spring game on Thursday in Tampa, Fla.

Wang allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits, walking none and striking
out 11 in the start against a team of Philadelphia Phillies farmhands. Wang
threw 70 of 91 pitches for strikes in the outing.

Carrying a 34.50 ERA through three starts, the Yankees decided this week to
skip Wang in the rotation against the Red Sox, instead sending him to Tampa
where he could work in front of Minor League pitching coordinator Nardi
Contreras.

"He has struggled, and we've talked about the importance of getting him
right," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said this week. "We believe this is
another step in doing it. Instead of not pitching him, we believe he has to
pitch and get this right."

Wang's rough return from a right foot injury suffered last June 15 has
included the lowlight of serving up eight runs and recording just four outs
in New York's 22-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday at Yankee
Stadium.

The issue is believed to be a mechanical flaw that forces Wang's right arm to
drag behind his body, keeping his sinker up in the strike zone and making it
more hittable. Wang has insisted that he is healthy, but general manager
Brian Cashman has not ruled out an injury, saying that team physicians will
examine Wang to make sure.

If Wang remains with the big league club, his next turn in the rotation could
come Tuesday at Detroit. Cashman seemed to hint this week that it will not be
Wang, saying that he would be "surprised" if Wang's stay in Tampa is a
one-and-done.

"Obviously we need his mechanics to be down right and have a good solid
outing where that sinker looks right," Cashman said. "I don't think it's
going to be something that'll be ... fixed right away. We'll see."

If the Yankees opt to place Wang on the disabled list or otherwise not pitch
him again, they could summon right-hander Phil Hughes from Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on turn.

Hughes pitched Wednesday at Triple-A, improving to 3-0 with 7 2/3 innings of
one-run, six-hit ball in a 6-1 victory over Buffalo, walking one and striking
out seven in the 105-pitch start.


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