Yankees 6, Phillies 1: With two hits and strong throw, Andrew McCutchen plays as well as he says he feels

It’s one thing for Andrew McCutchen to say he’s finally moving around as well as he did prior to tearing the ACL in his left knee 22 months ago.

Thursday, he showed it.

Playing back-to-back games for the first time this spring, McCutchen picked up two hits, including an RBI single, and made an easy, strong throw from left field to cut down Luke Voit at third base in the Phillies’ 6-1 loss to the New York Yankees in Clearwater, Fla.

McCutchen started 36 of 60 games in left field last season and ranked among the worst defenders in baseball, saving eight runs less than the average left fielder, according to Sports Info Solutions. His struggles were a byproduct of limited range as he tried to come back from major knee surgery.

Without a designated hitter in the National League this season, McCutchen will have to get his playing time in the outfield.

“We know what Cutch does in the outfield,” said pitcher Aaron Nola, who allowed two runs on four hits, including a wind-aided solo homer by Aaron Hicks, in four innings. “If he tracks down balls for guys like he did today we’re going to have a good defense.”

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Scott Kingery jumped on a 96-mph first-pitch fastball from Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and stroked a double over Hicks’ head in center field in the third inning. It was only Kingery’s third hit in 16 spring at-bats. But it was the kind of swing he will need to win the center-field job.

Fellow center-field candidate Odúbel Herrera finished 0-for-2.

Didi Gregorius wasn’t concerned last year when he went hitless in his first 22 Grapefruit League at-bats. It’s doubtful, then, that a 1-for-14 start this spring is going to faze the veteran shortstop, who went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts on six pitches.

Score one for lefty JoJo Romero in the fight for a seat in the Phillies’ revamped bullpen. Romero got Mike Ford to ground into a first-pitch double play, then cranked up his fastball to 97 mph to set up a strikeout of Kyle Higashioka in a nine-pitch sixth inning.

Sam Coonrod had his fastball humming at 97 mph, even touching 99 in the fifth inning. But he gave up two hits, including a blistering RBI double to center field by Hicks, and made an errant pickoff throw to first base. Coonrod is squarely in the running for a bullpen job but may be at a disadvantage because he can be sent to the minors without clearing waivers.

Zack Wheeler is expected to make his third spring-training start Friday against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. The game will not be televised.

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