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A Labor Day to remember for Murphy, Cabral
BY Mark Feinsand
Joe Girardi was feeling pretty good about his team after Monday’s 9-1 blowout of the White Sox, but the manager seemed even happier about getting two of his rookies into their first big-league games during the one-sided affair. Cesar Cabral pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up a hit while recording the first two strikeouts of his career. In the bottom of the inning, J.R. Murphy pinch-hit for Robinson Cano – not a move I imagined we’re going to see very often – and registered an infield single to third base. “It’s nice to get some kids their first taste,” Girardi said. “You get a first strikeout and you get a first hit; that’s always nice.” Both players were called up when rosters expanded on September 1. Cabral, a Rule 5 pick from the Red Sox in December 2011, missed all of 2012 after suffering a left elbow fracture during spring training. He had been in competition for a spot on the Yankees’ roster at the time of the injury, so his long road back – which included 25 outings at Double-A and Triple-A this season – made Monday’s debut quite memorable. “It feels really, really good right now,” Cabral said. “I did my rehab great. Thank God. I thought I might never come back, but I feel healthy and can help the team.” Murphy began the season at Double-A Trenton, hitting .268 with six homers and 25 RBI in 49 games before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 13. He hit .270 with six homers and 21 RBI in 59 games there before getting the call-up over the weekend.
SD Yankee Report 