Yankees 4, Tigers 2

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Detroit Tigers ace Kenny Rogers was glad he made his final start of spring training after aching from flu-like symptoms earlier this week.

After stopping Robinson Cano’s sharp comebacker with the inside of his left thumb in the first inning, Rogers was thrilled to finish his four-inning outing against the New York Yankees.

Russ Johnson’s RBI double drove in one of three runs against Rogers, helping New York beat Detroit 4-2 Wednesday.

“I didn’t think I would feel good enough to get more than one or two innings in, but my energy was much better than I expected,” said Rogers, who gave up four hits and five walks. “At first, I thought getting my hand on that ball might’ve stopped me from getting my work in, but luckily, it didn’t.

“I didn’t care about the results, I just needed to get this one in before the opener.”

The Tigers open Monday at Kansas City while the Yankees begin the season later that day at Oakland.

New York center fielder Johnny Damon, with ice strapped to his left shoulder, said he will be ready.

“I’m as close to 100 percent healthy as I can be,” Damon said. “I’m ready to go.”

Tigers manager Jim Leyland was encouraged by how shortstop Carlos Guillen looked after being worried about his lower-back injury. Guillen, who played in the field, scored from second base in the second inning on Curtis Granderson’s double after reaching on a single and stealing a base.

“Guillen looked like his old self, that’s the thing I’m happiest about today,” Leyland said.

Guillen was to visit a chiropractor again Wednesday night.

“I feel fine,” he said.

The Tigers got within one player of getting down to a 25-man active roster by optioning the contracts of outfielder Nook Logan and right-hander Roman Colon to Triple-A Toledo. They have to make one more move with a pitcher, perhaps reliever Franklyn German.

With Leyland choosing to let the speedy Logan play every day in the minors, 29-year-old outfielder Marcus Thames will start the season in the majors for the first time.

“I can get some sleep now,” Thames said.

Notes

Yankees non-roster RHP Scott Erickson allowed two hits and a walk in 1 1-3 innings, returning from a back injury. With RHP Scott Proctor expected to be on the opening-day roster, Erickson will likely begin the season in the minors. … New York’s Jorge Posada, expected to play in the field Thursday for the first time since breaking his nose last week, had a hit and two walks as a designated hitter. … While Detroit opens with the Royals, injured closer Troy Percival will scout its next opponent, the Texas Rangers. Percival tore a muscle near his pitching elbow last July—after signing a two-year, $12 million contract—and left training camp a month ago after pitching perhaps for the last time. “He’s the highest-paid scout in the country,” Leyland joked. “I told him to find me the best place to buy cowboy boots down there.” … In Tampa, Yankees ace Randy Johnson allowed three runs and three hits over five innings in a minor league game.