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By FRANK PASTOR and STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 2, 2002
DUNEDIN -- A few more outings like Friday's start against Toronto and Yankees manager Joe Torre expects to see Orlando Hernandez's swagger back for good.
"El Duque," battling David Wells and Sterling Hitchcock for one of two rotation spots, pitched two scoreless innings and struck out one in the Yankees' 7-3 win.
Hernandez threw 12 strikes on 19 pitches and faced one batter over the minimum.
"I thought 'Duque' looked fine," Torre said. "It looked like he threw all of his pitches."
Hernandez, 32, has been one of the Yankees' most flamboyant players since joining the team in 1998. But his confidence waned during an injury-riddled 2001 season in which he went 4-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 17 games.
Hernandez was pleased with his first appearance of the spring.
"I was able to go out and do my job," he said through an interpreter. "That was the objective, just do my job, and I was able to do it."
TOUGH OUT: Derek Jeter faced 17 pitches in his first two at-bats, fouling off seven before singling and doubling off Roy Halladay. The Yankees shortstop was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
"It seems like Jeter's been playing for two weeks," Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado said. ODDS AND ENDS: Ted Lilly pitched two perfect innings in relief. ... Jorge Posada pinched a fingernail while swinging. "If he's not in there (today), that's probably the reason," Torre said.
TODAY'S GAME: Right-hander Roger Clemens starts the 1:30 p.m. game at Legends Field. Right-hander Brandon Lyon starts for Toronto.
Roy Halladay, the Blue Jays' projected opening-day starter, lasted one inning plus two batters in his spring debut.
The right-hander threw 29 strikes on 39 pitches but allowed five runs, two earned, and six hits.
Halladay didn't get much help from his defense, as a windblown fly ball got away from leftfielder Shannon Stewart, and shortstop Felipe Lopez misplayed an apparent double-play ball during a four-run first inning for the Yankees.
"I'm not disappointed at all," Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez said. "Sure, you don't want to see a guy go out there and have an outing like that. But, at the same time, we make a couple plays behind him and it's a totally different outing."
SWEET RELIEF: Scott Eyre, a contender for the Jays' fifth starting spot, relieved Halladay in the second and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Scott Cassidy and Chris Peters followed with successful appearances before Bob File surrendered a two-run home run to Todd Greene in the eighth.
CAUGHT STEALING: Martinez didn't like Homer Bush's decision to try to steal second with Toronto down four and one out in the first. Bush was thrown out by Chris Widger. "He didn't pick a good spot right there," Martinez said. "I talked to him about it and he understands, so I'm sure he'll have better judgment next time."
CLEARWATER -- Manager Larry Bowa sat his regulars Friday in the Phillies' spring opener, a 12-2 win over Saint Leo University at Jack Russell Stadium.
Bowa used seven pitchers, including starter Vicente Padilla and Brett Myers, who pitched two innings each. Elio Serrano, Jose Santiago, Allen McDill, Eric Junge and Doug Nickle each pitched an inning.
Padilla, acquired from Arizona as part of the Curt Schilling trade in 2000, struck out five of the seven batters he faced.
Myers allowed two hits and a run (on the first of two Brian Sheeky doubles), but Bowa expressed confidence in the 21-year-old right-hander.
"Myers threw some good breaking balls," Bowa said. "He overthrew a little bit, but he made some good pitches."
UTLEY SAVES HIS DAY: With Gold Glove third baseman Scott Rolen rejecting a long-term contract offer, Bowa plans to give Chase Utley additional work at third.
A second baseman with Class A Clearwater last season, Utley started at third, making a first-inning throwing error and going hitless in his first three plate appearances. But Utley redeemed himself by cleanly fielding three grounders and driving in three with a triple and double-play groundout.
"Luckily I pulled a hit out and saved the day -- saved the day for me, at least," Utley said.
Aware of Rolen's uncertain status, Utley said he does not feel pressured this spring.
"I don't look at it any different," Utley said. "I'm always going to try to get off to a good start and not worry about things out of my control."
LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Philadelphia begins Grapefruit League play at 1:05 p.m. today by hosting the Pirates. Robert Person starts against Pittsburgh's Ron Villone.