Yankees turn rare triple play against Orioles in 5-2 win

The New York Yankees turned a dramatic triple play in the eighth inning of Friday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles in a match-up full of wild plays.

In the seventh inning, Adam Jones dropped Vernon Wells' fly ball while blowing a bubble for a game-changing, three-run error, that helped New York beat the O's, 5-2, for its fourth straight win.

In front of a freezing Yankee Stadium crowd, New York turned the rare triple play after Baltimore started the eighth with two singles off CC Sabathia (2-1), and Manny Machado hit a sharp low liner at second baseman Robinson Cano.

Cano tossed it to shortstop Jayson Nix for the forceout at second. Nick Markakis, thinking the ball was going to be caught by Cano, got trapped in a rundown between second and third base.

Third baseman Kevin Youkilis tagged Markakis and then threw to first baseman Lyle Overbay when Machado ranged too far off the bag. Overbay then threw to Cano, who tagged Machado, setting off a giant celebration by New York.

That is 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 if you’re scoring the game at home and probably the last one like that you'll ever see.

CC Sabathia was superb for the Yankees. The big leftie went eight innings, struck out nine and gave up one earned run.

The last triple play by the Yankees was on April 22, 2010 against the Oakland A's.

Cashman: Jeter slated to start March 10

Derek Jeter got off the treadmill and ran the basepaths for the first time Saturday since having ankle surgery last October.  Although the New York Yankees shortstop is far from full speed, general manager Brian Cashman expects Jeter to be ready to participate in his first exhibition game on March 10.

Jeter's first action will probably come as a designated hitter and leave the rehabbing Captain 18 spring games over the final 20 days to get ready for Opening Day against the Red Sox on April 1 at Yankee Stadium.

Is it enough time for the 38-year-old Jeter to return from a broken left ankle?

"Twenty days of Derek Jeter in spring training is still better than whatever the alternative we're going to run out there," Cashman said. "Physically he's capable of doing everything, it's just we're being very cautious about how we take him out of the gate."

The Yankees would use Eduardo Nunez or Jayson Nix at shortstop if Jeter can't make the Opening Day deadline.  But don't count on it.

"I don't see any reason why not," Jeter said.  "When I first got here I was a couple of weeks behind.  On that schedule, I don't see why not."

Last preseason Jeter played in only 15 games and had 44 at-bats so his theory isn't that far fetched.

"I think its more of a feel thing, you know when you feel as though you are ready," said Jeets.  "I have  left spring training not feeling good and gotten off to good starts and the opposite too. I don't think there is a number [of at-bats] that you necessarily need."

Asked about breaking in his cleats on the basepaths Saturday, Jeter sounded satisfied.

"My form was good," he said. "It wasn't an all-out sprint.  Like I said, I'm a couple of weeks behind, so it's what I would be doing two weeks ago."