Phillies fall to Yankees, 7-4

TAMPA -- Roy Halladay struck out three in his first spring start, and Hunter Pence hit another two-run home run in the Phillies' 7-4 loss Sunday to the New York Yankees.

Halladay's lone blemish: Alex Rodriguez drove a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right-center in the first inning for the Yankees' first run. Halladay then got Mark Teixeira on a groundout to end the inning.

Halladay pitched out of trouble in the second inning.

Andruw Jones led off with a single and Francisco Cervelli reached on the first of four Phillies errors. Halladay struck out Chris Dickerson, got an infield pop out and struck out Justin Maxwell to end the threat and his day.

He left with a 2-1 lead, thanks to Pence, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the second consecutive game.

The Yankees tied it with a run in the third off losing pitcher Joel Pineiro and took advantage of another infield error to add two more runs in the fourth for a 4-2 lead. Pineiro allowed three runs, but just one was earned.

The Phillies had their chances. Domonic Brown opened the fourth with his second hit but was thrown out stealing. Immediately afterward, John Mayberry doubled to left field and Michael Martinez walked. Both moved up when Freddy Galvis grounded out to the right side but were stranded when Tuffy Gosewisch flew out to right.

Martinez doubled and scored on Galvis' double in the sixth to pull the Phillies within 4-3.

The Yankees took advantage of more Phillies' defensive woes to score three runs in the seventh against relief prospect Phillippe Aumont. Brown dropped a fly ball in left field to start the inning.

Mayberry's RBI groundout in the eighth accounted for the Phillies' final run.

Most of the Phillies' regulars stayed in Clearwater. Third baseman Placido Polanco is expected to make his debut Monday.

Galvis, a longshot to make the club as a reserve infielder, helped his cause with his glove and bat. Twice he ranged far to his right to take away hits, and he also added an RBI double and single.

Joe Blanton is scheduled to pitch Monday when the three-game series returns to Clearwater.