Rivera on track for action shortly
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Mariano Rivera faced teammates in live batting practice Monday for the first time and should be ready to face opposing hitters within the week.
"Maybe one more and I'll be ready to go," Rivera said after a 30-pitch session in which Chris Dickerson took swings from the left side and Francisco Cervelli took his cuts from the right.
Rivera said "maybe" he can make his first appearance this weekend, though Joe Girardi said the closer likely will not throw another BP session until Thursday, meaning Friday would be out. Because Rivera does not make road trips in spring training, that would leave Sunday at home against Philadelphia in a split-squad game as a possibility, or Monday or Tuesday nights, both home dates.
"I was happy with today," Rivera said. "Next one will be the big one. How you bounce back. But I'm optimistic. I feel good about it. We'll be ready."
He smiled.
"Hey, I was born ready."
X-rays for Nuñez
Eduardo Nuñez, considered a near-lock for the 25-man roster as a reserve infielder, left Monday's game in the fifth inning after getting hit on the right hand by a pitch from the Phillies' Austin Hyatt. Nuñez, diagnosed with a contusion, had precautionary X-rays in Tampa -- which came back negative -- and is expected to be out at least a couple of days.
"I hope it's not too many days," Nuñez said.
"When it's the hand, you're always a little bit nervous about that," Girardi said. "We'll see what happens."
Soriano also throws
Rafael Soriano threw live BP and had Rivera, along with Girardi, Larry Rothschild and Mike Harkey, standing behind the screen watching. "Him and Sori both looked good," Girardi said.
Scoreless inning for LIer
Dan Burawa, the Yankees' 12th-round selection in the 2010 draft out of St. John's, pitched a scoreless fifth. The Rocky Point graduate got Kevin Frandsen to ground weakly to third for the first out, was late covering first on Jimmy Rollins' hard grounder that went for an infield single and induced a double-play grounder from Shane Victorino to end the inning.
Hughes pitches today
Phil Hughes, a topic of much discussion in spring training, will follow CC Sabathia to the mound Tuesday against the Pirates in Bradenton.
"You want to see crispness in pitches," Girardi said of what he's looking for from Hughes. "You want to see location. And sometimes it's hard that first time through to use all your pitches. I want to see him throw his changeup a bit, locate his heater."
