New York Sports

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."

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.

Nady A Big Hit In Mets Debut

Xavier Nady went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBIs in his Mets debut, leading New York to a 12-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

Not a bad way to stake an early claim to a starting spot.

After being acquired in a trade with San Diego during the offseason, Nady is competing with Victor Diaz this spring for playing time in right field.

"Nady already has my MVP vote," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "Every ball he hit, he hit hard."

Carlos Delgado was 3-for-3 in his first game with the Mets, who roughed up Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan for nine runs and nine hits in 1 1-3 innings.

All-Star closer Billy Wagner also made his first appearance for New York. He allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning.

Jagr Powers Rangers To 7th Straight Win

Jaromir Jagr scored his NHL-leading 41st and 42nd goals and also had an assist to lead the New York Rangers to their seventh straight victory, 6-1 over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

The Atlantic Division-leading Rangers have a four-point lead over the second-place Flyers. Kevin Weekes made 36 saves for New York, first in its division this late in the season for the first time since 1995-96.

The Rangers, 3-0-2 against Philadelphia this season, didn't need a lot of shots to beat the Flyers. They scored three goals -- two on the power play -- in a 1:58 span early in the second period and had four goals in a 6:46 span.

Jagr, the NHL leader with 91 points, scored two power-play goals to open the second period and give the Rangers a 3-0 lead. Jagr's second goal gave him 1,400 career points.

Isles Finally Get To Brodeur In Shootout

Trent Hunter smacked a shot between Martin Brodeur's pads in a shootout, denying the Canadian Olympian his 30th victory and lifting the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

Brodeur, who beat Philadelphia in a shootout on Wednesday night in the Devils' first game after the Olympic break, is trying to become the first player to have 30 wins in 10 straight seasons. He's the only goalie with more than eight in a row.

Miroslav Satan, who was with his wife in Buffalo earlier in the day when she gave birth to a boy, also scored against Brodeur in the shootout. Viktor Kozlov and John Madden were stopped by U.S. Olympic goalie Rick DiPietro, who made 26 regular saves.

New York's Alexei Zhitnik assisted on power-play goals in the second period by Brent Sopel and Jason Blake. Scott Gomez and Jay Pandolfo scored for New Jersey, which lost to New York for the second time in three games.

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