Yanks' Wang strikes out 11 in extended spring training - 棒球

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang threw 70 of 91

pitches for strikes over seven innings in an extended spring training

game on Thursday.

Wang, who is 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA, was sent to the Yankees' minor league

complex to work on pitching consistency. He allowed five runs -- four

earned -- nine hits and struck out 11 against Philadelphia Phillies minor

leaguers.

The right-hander has not been told if he will make his next start in the

majors or the minors. Wang is flying to Boston on Friday to rejoin the

Yankees for a weekend series with the Red Sox,

"Good day," Wang said. "Sinker down more, but sometimes got higher and

the ball didn't sink."

Yankees pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras planned to watch video of

Thursday's game and previous games Wang appeared in to compare mechanics.

"He doesn't have the arm strength he had last year," Contreras said.

"But he hasn't pitched in eight months prior to this spring training.

What I saw today, he had the best slider I've seen since I've known

Chien-Ming. The slider has improved and the changeup is very good.

His offspeed pitches are coming in really well."

Wang missed the final 3? months last season with a foot injury but appeared

to be healthy during spring training and says he feels fine.

Yankees vice president Billy Connors worked on mechanics with Wang before

the game, including staying back a little longer during his delivery.

"I thought he did well," Connors said. "What I looked for was groundballs

on his sinker. He had a good sinker. In this league here, you throw

groundballs the ground is so hard they're base hits. He needed to get out

there and let his mind back in the groove."

In other news, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez increased both his

running and hitting sessions as he continues a rehab program after right

hip surgery on March 9.

Rodriguez ran four times from the plate to first after swinging a bat,

and went from first to second six times.

The three-time AL MVP also took 28 swings on curveballs off a pitching

machine for the first time. He followed that with 63 swings in regular

batting practice.

The Yankees expect Rodriguez to rejoin the team by May 15.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11667831

--