Giese up

As expected, Dan Giese has been called up to provide support for Joba Chamberlain.

For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Giese is 4-2 with a 1.98 ERA in 59 innings. He's had 13 appearances, with 10 of those being starts. He has struck out 51, walked 14 and given up 43 hits.

There is no word on what the corresponding 25-man roster move was at this time.

Update - 4:40 p.m.: Mike Rose is reporting that Scott Patterson was optioned out. I hope he enjoyed his cup of coffee.

Yankees call up Patterson, designate Ensberg for assignment

According to Mark Feinsand, the Yankees have called up Scott Patterson to give the Yankees an extra arm in the bullpen. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, Morgan Ensberg was designated for assignment.

For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Patterson was 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA and three saves in 22 relief appearances. He struck out 22 and walked five in 23 2/3 innings. He also allowed 22 hits and two home runs. Feinsand also notes that Patterson retired 22 of 23 batters he faced in spring training.

Ensberg has struggled in his bench role. He has 15 hits in 74 at-bats with only four RBI.

Kennedy done after 2 2-3

Ian Kennedy's last pitch was smacked off the center-field wall for a Ramon Hernandez two-run double.

This was not in the seventh inning. It was even in the fourth inning. It in the third inning with two outs. However, judging by Kennedy's pitch count (85 pitches), it seemed like it was the seventh inning.

The Yankees are trailing 4-0 heading to the top of the fourth. Four runs this early doesn't seem like a lot, but with the way the offense has been, it seems almost insurmountable.

The Yankees seem committed to going with young starters, but through 19 games, it does not appear to be working. Moves need to be made and moves will be made if the Yankees want to contend.

April 19 or not, something needs to change.

Joba Chamberlain needs to begin the transition process as soon as possible. Darrell Rasner and Scott Patterson need to be called up.

Wang blasted

Chien-Ming Wang was only around for 2-3 of an inning this afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota, Fla. He faced 10 batters, allowed six hits, six earned runs and two walks.

The Yankees are trailing 6-0 through 3 1-2.

Johnny Damon has two doubles, the only hits for the Yankees thus far.

Scott Patterson relieved Wang and retired all four batters he faced in order. Kyle Farnsworth struck out one and walked one in his inning of work.

UPDATE: 2:38 p.m.: Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-out grand slam off of Darrell Rasner in the fourth. 10-0 Reds.

Rain cuts short Hughes' outing

Phil Hughes pitched a 1-2-3 first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. After that, the rains came and the Yankees didn't want to take a chance.

According to Peter Abraham, Hughes threw 30 more pitches under cover.

Apparently the game was called unofficially after 1 1-2 innings, as the two managers shook hands. However, the teams are back on the field and are in the top of the fifth inning. Scott Patterson relieved Hughes and pitched a scoreless second inning.

Kei Igawa has pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two and not allowing a hit.

Shelley Duncan went 2-2 with an RBI before being replaced. He is now 6-9 with eight RBI so far this spring.

All of today's starters for the Yankees are out of the game.