Mark Teixeira Helps The Yankees Chop Down The Braves

Mark Teixeira helped the New York Yankees beat his former team, the Atlanta Braves, 6-4 on the road yesterday in Kissimmee, Florida. Teixeira went 2-for-2 with a homerun, including a walk and seems to be clicking on all cylinders thus far as he is hitting .391; 2 HR; 6 RBI; 7 R in 46 AB this spring. Teixeira’s bat will need to stay this hot, particularly during the beginning of the season with Alex Rodriguez out of the mix as A-Rod comes back from hip surgery. However, if Xavier Nady (3-for-4; 1 RBI), Melky Cabrera (3-for-4; 1 R) if he gets the centerfield job, and Robinson Cano (1-for-3; 1 HR) hit this well, the Yankees will be just fine. And, let’s be honest, the Yankees offense will be just fine, especially if Hideki Matsui comes back strong from injury and stays healthy since he’ll probably be batting clean-up, getting Teixeira pitches to hit, as well as driving him, Derek Jeter, and Johnny Damon across the plate.

Brett Tomko got the win for the Yankees, going 3.0 innings, giving up three hits and one walk. Edwar Ramirez got his first save of the spring, pitching two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout. The Yankees are now 18-10, 7-7 on the road.