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Drabek throws 5 scoreless innings as Jays beat Sabathia, Yankees

Kyle Drabek made a strong impression on the opposing manager.Drabek threw five scoreless innings, outpitching CC Sabathia, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Brett Gardner, Andruw Jones
New York Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner

Toronto 4 New York 3

TAMPA, Fla. — Kyle Drabek made a strong impression on the opposing manager.

Drabek threw five scoreless innings, outpitching CC Sabathia, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Tuesday night.

“Pretty good,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “You could see he’s got a hard sinker. He mixed in his other pitches. He held us in check. We had some opportunities, but he got some big outs. I thought he threw the ball pretty good.”

Drabek, competing for a spot in Toronto’s rotation, allowed five hits. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out five and walked two.

“I think when, to me, he pitches with more emotional control, as he’s shown, he doesn’t overthrow the baseball,” Toronto manager John Farrell said. “He doesn’t come out of his delivery. He’s doing a good job of that.”

Drabek had just one 1-2-3 inning.

“I was more happy with when I was getting in trouble, I was able to keep my composure and mechanics in check,” Drabek said.

Sabathia, set to start on opening day for the Yankees, gave up three runs and six hits in six innings.

The left-hander will make his final exhibition start Sunday in the first major league spring training game at the Miami Marlins’ new ballpark.

“It will be fun to go there and open up the park,” Sabathia said.

New York centre fielder Curtis Granderson didn’t play due to a sore right elbow. General manager Brian Cashman said the move was precautionary and added that Granderson will have an MRI on Wednesday.

Toronto right-hander Brandon Morrow didn’t make the trip and instead pitched in a minor league game, where he struck out 11 in 5 2-3 innings.

“He was very good,” Farrell said. “He was strong. He threw four pitches for strikes. It was a very good day for him.”

New York left-hander Andy Pettitte, who ended his brief retirement by agreeing to a minor league contract on March 16, threw 20 pitches in batting practice and 13 more to four batters in a simulated game.

“It was a good day, a positive day,” Pettitte said.

“A step in the right direction. Just another step in the process.”

Pettitte could pitch in a spring training game next week.

NOTES: Toronto INF Adam Lind was a late scratch due to lower back soreness. ... Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw a perfect inning in a minor league game. He will join Sabathia in pitching Sunday against the Marlins.