Pirates-Yankee Notes

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com
BRADENTON – Freddy Sanchez grabbed his bag and jogged toward the clubhouse Saturday.
It was earlier than he had hoped.
Pittsburgh’s second baseman was ejected in the fifth inning of the Pirates’ 13-10 loss to the New York Yankees by home plate umpire Rob Healey.
Sanchez was thrown out after he struck out looking at a 1-2 pitch from New York’s Ian Kennedy.
“Obviously, it’s unfortunate. I don’t want to be thrown out of any game, let alone a spring training game,” he said. “At the same time, I’m trying to get up there and have some good at bats. It is what it is.”
Sanchez said he took exception with a 1-1 pitch that Healey called a strike. Sanchez thought it was high and inside.
“That was my opinion, and he saw it a different way,” Sanchez said. “I probably got a little frustrated after that third pitch.”
Sanchez had some company Saturday when John Russell was ejected during the same inning. Russell came out of the dugout after Sanchez was thrown out, and was booted out by umpire Jerry Crawford.
GETTING BETTER: Eric Hinske experienced no pain after taking live batting practice Saturday for the first time since suffering a left rib contusion earlier this spring.
“Felt good,” he said. “I’m close.”
Hinske plans to head back to Pirate City beginning Tuesday to get at-bats in some minor-league games.
“They have me on a road to recovery, step-by-step,” he said. “I’ve got plenty of time. I usually only need 50 or 60 ABs, so I’ll be all right.”
The Pirates will face his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday in Port Charlotte and Monday night back in Bradenton.