Burnett gives Martin a busy day

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- When it comes to being difficult to catch and harder to characterize, A.J. Burnett was in midseason form Friday.

Burnett challenged new Yankees catcher Russell Martin in an eventful five-inning outing against the Blue Jays. The stint included two wild pitches, one passed ball, three stolen bases, two throwing errors by Martin, one hit-by-pitch by Burnett and a home run by one of Burnett's former catchers, Jose Molina.

Burnett also was hit in the rear end by Juan Rivera's comebacker. He allowed four runs (two earned), five hits and no walks with five strikeouts in the Yankees' 6-5 loss to the Jays.

"That was a crazy game out there," Burnett said. "Sometimes you've got to smile at things."

The Yankees smiled, even though it didn't look pretty at times. Said Joe Girardi, "I actually thought he threw better than the numbers indicate."

Martin said Burnett's curveball was so nasty that it was hard to hit and harder to block. One of Martin's throwing errors came on a strikeout of Rivera; he had to chase the pitch to the backstop and then overthrew first baseman Eric Chavez. The other error came on a stolen base.

"Definitely that was the best I've seen his curveball," Martin said. "When it's that good, obviously he's going to throw a lot in the dirt because they're swinging at it. So I've got to be ready."

Burnett has two more exhibition outings before he starts the second or third game of the season. Girardi said he will announce as early as Saturday whether Burnett or Phil Hughes will go first.

Other than the new tattoo of a baseball on his posterior via the comebacker and the "stupid" sinker he threw to Molina, Burnett was pleased with the outing.

"I found my hook today," he said. "I'm going to take that from today. It was sharp. Saw some bad swings on it."

Notes & quotes: Both of the Yankees' lefthanded relievers are ailing. Boone Logan, who returned Thursday from a dead-arm period with a one-inning appearance, is out four to five days with back spasms. Pedro Feliciano, who hasn't pitched since March 9, will throw a bullpen session Saturday as he attempts to overcome muscle soreness in his upper arm. Joba Chamberlain, who hasn't pitched since March 11 because of a strained oblique, also will throw a bullpen session Saturday.

With less than two weeks before the March 31 opener, Girardi said one or more of his relievers could start the season on the disabled list. "It's possible," he said, "if Joba throws his bullpen and doesn't feel good or Feliciano throws his bullpen and doesn't feel good. You hope that they're not, but I don't think any of us really know until they go out and compete."

Sergio Mitre, meanwhile, returned from his oblique issues to throw three innings in relief of Burnett. He allowed a two-run home run to Mike McCoy.

Brett Gardner left the game after three innings because of a sore right shin. He fouled a ball off it Thursday night and was not running normally when he was thrown out at the plate in the third inning Friday. He doesn't expect to miss any time.