PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Phil Hughes allowed only three hits — one, a two-run homer by Matt Jocye — in five innings, and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 Wednesday.
After walking Carlos Pena to lead off the bottom of the second inning, Joyce cranked a first-pitch cutter to dead center field for his third homer of the spring. But that was all the offense Tampa Bay could muster.
Hughes, who is contending for a rotation spot and looking to rebound from an injury spoiled year, was otherwise effective. He struck out three and threw 50 of his 73 pitches for strikes.
Kyle Farnsworth, J.P. Howell and Burke Badenhop combined for five scoreless innings for the Rays. Jeff Niemann started in a minor league game rather than face the AL East rival.
