Cano, Almonte homer for battered Yankees, who open spring training with 8-3 win over Braves

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New York Yankees\' Eduardo Nunez, top, leaps to catch the throw as Atlanta Braves\' Christian Bethancourt (57) advances from first to second during an exhibition spring training baseball game Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. Bethancourt was safe at second. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Robinson Cano and Zoilo Almonte homered for the New York Yankees, who opened spring training with an 8-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Cano and Mark Teixeira were about the only big names who made the trip to Disney World with the injury-plagued Yankees. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia and Mariano Riviera are all still in rehab mode.

Almonte hit a two-run homer in the third inning off Jordan Walden, while Cano went deep in the fifth. The Braves didn’t help their pitchers with three errors and a passed ball.

New York starter David Phelps pitched two scoreless innings.

Evan Gattis hit a two-run homer that landed halfway up the berm in left field and set up Atlanta’s other run with a double.

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