Phillies 6, Yankees 3

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Johnny Damon doubled on his first swing in pinstripes and singled on his next. A few hours later, he was gone.

The Yankees’ new center fielder and leadoff hitter went 2-for-3 Thursday as New York opened its exhibition schedule with a 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Even before the game was over, Damon departed along with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Al Leiter to join up with the U.S. baseball team gathering in Phoenix for the first World Baseball Classic—the 16-nation tournament Yankees owner George Steinbrenner wishes would go away.

“I’m excited for the country. I’m excited for my father, who fought. I’m excited for this game of baseball,” said Damon, whose father served in Vietnam. “This game is a lot more than the steroid scandals, it’s a lot more than juiced-ball theories. It’s stood the test of time, and this is just another way to help it along.”

If the Americans advance to the final, Damon & Co. won’t return until March 21. Until then, fans at spring training likely will see a lot of Melky Cabrera in center, Felix Escalona at shortstop and Marcos Vechionacci at third.

Bernie Williams, set to join up with Puerto Rico’s team Friday in Port St. Lucie, kidded Jeter, softly chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as he walked by the Yankees’ captain in the clubhouse.

“It’s going to be strange without them,” New York manager Joe Torre said.

While snow fell in New York, it was 76 degrees and sunny at spring training as the Yankees took the field for a game for the first time since their Game 5 loss in Anaheim against the Angels in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

New York built a 2-0 lead in the second on singles by Jason Giambi and Williams, Jorge Posada’s sacrifice fly and Robinson Cano’s RBI single, and Shawn Chacon opened with two scoreless innings.

Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer in the third off Sean Henn, and Chris Coste hit a solo shot in the eighth off J. Brent Cox as the Phillies rallied.

Jimmy Rollins, who ended last season with a 36-game hitting streak, went 0-for-3 and bantered with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa, the Yankees’ new third-base coach.

“It was a little weird,” Phillies second baseman Chase Utley said after seeing Bowa in pinstripes.

Philadelphia is losing six players to the Classic, including Utley (U.S.), right fielder Bobby Abreu (Venezuela), and left-hander Rheal Cormier (Canada).

Steinbrenner, who repeatedly has expressed his opposition to the WBC, watched the game from his suite high above home plate and got his last in-person look at Damon for a few weeks. Damon spent four seasons in Boston, where he became a long-haired, rock-star icon in helping the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the 2004 AL championship series and sweep St. Louis in the World Series for Boston’s first title since 1918.

His hair now shorn to the Steinbrenner-approved length, Damon was impressed by the procession of former Yankees stars introduced before the game, a group that included Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson.

“I’m one of those guys that helps this game out,” Damon said, “helps out the Little Leagues, kids growing out their hair, knowing that it’s OK to have your own personality, be a bit different, but also knows coming over to play for the Yankees, people have got to understand rules and traditions.”

He took a ball from Ryan Franklin before hooking a double down the right-field line, then singled on his first pitch in the second. Damon flied to left in the fifth on the sixth pitch of his at-bat.

“He didn’t miss a beat, did he?” Torre said. “He’s going to give you some energy at the top of the lineup, there’s no question. He knows how to play. You see he takes charge in center field, he does all those things with ease.”

Notes

Yankees LF Hideki Matsui (left knee) didn’t play and is not scheduled to travel for Friday’s game at the Phillies. He could play Saturday. “The swelling is going down,” Matsui said through a translator. “I’m ready to play. The decision is up to the manager.” … Leiter said he will follow Florida’s Dontrelle Willis against Canada on Wednesday. … New York closer Mariano Rivera threw 38 pitches in his second batting practice session. … Yankees RHP Carl Pavano (back) is scheduled to throw halfway up the mound for the first time Saturday. He is expected to start the season on the DL. … New York RHP Tanyon Sturtze (tired shoulder) could have his initial batting practice session in a couple of days and said he might be ready for game action in about a week. … Burrell (sore foot) was a DH. … Philadelphia INF David Bell had tests for his ailing back.