Mariano Rivera perfect in 1st spring appearance

[March 18, 2009]  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Mariano Rivera struck out two during a perfect fifth inning in his first game since undergoing offseason right shoulder surgery and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Tuesday night.

CC Sabathia, the expected Yankees' opening-day starter, gave up one run and one hit in four innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walked one.

Hideki Matsui went 2-for-2 and drove in four runs for the Yankees.

Virgil Vazquez, competing for one of the Pirates' final two rotation spots, allowed six runs and seven hits in 2 1-3 innings.

[Associated Press]

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