TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Joba Chamberlain made his second straight strong start, allowing two hits over three scoreless innings Monday in the New York Yankees' 12-0 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Chamberlain struggled in his first two starts, giving up seven runs, four hits and four walks over one-plus innings. He rebounded last Tuesday, allowing one run and three hits in three innings of a 7-1 win over Cincinnati.

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``It's getting better,' Chamberlain said. ``I threw some great changeups for strikes. Good offspeed. I cut a couple fastballs off. Other than that, trying to eliminate the long counts. Overall, everything was great.'

Chamberlain struck out three and walked one against the Phillies.

``He started the game off with a walk, but did bounce back and start throwing strikes, so I was happy with that,' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

New York had 20 hits off five pitchers. Nick Swisher went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while rookie infielder Eduardo Nunez hit three singles in three at_bats.

Kei Igawa threw three scoreless innings and has not given up a run in 12 innings overall.

Philadelphia right-hander Kyle Kendrick, competing for the fifth starter's spot, allowed five runs - four earned - and eight hits in four innings. His ERA dropped from 14.29 to 12.10.

Before the game, the Phillies said ace Cole Hamels was scheduled to have his left elbow examined Tuesday by the team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti.

``He's had a little bit of a persistent soreness in his elbow. We do not believe it's serious,' Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. ``But at least at this time we thought it was important for Dr. Ciccotti to check him out and see if there's anything more serious than we think it is.'

Hamels, last year's World Series MVP, pitched in an intrasquad game Sunday and didn't report any pain in four innings.

``It's just been that kind of mild discomfort, something I don't want to have to deal with during the season,' Hamels said. ``So if we can figure it out and somehow lessen the inflammation and the discomfort, I'll be able to throw and be productive.'

New York said before the game that MRIs on second baseman Robinson Cano (right shoulder bursitis) and left-hander Damaso Marte (left shoulder inflammation) showed no major problems.

``Could have been a lot worse,' Girardi said.

Cano had a pinch-single in the sixth Monday and could play the field on Friday. Marte is scheduled to throw a bullpen Tuesday, and could pitch in a game this weekend.

Girardi is leaning toward using Marte and Brian Bruney as the eighth-inning setup men for closer Mariano Rivera, slated to pitch Tuesday for the first time since right shoulder surgery last October.

Notes: Yankees LHPs Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia could pitch in minor league games Friday and Sunday. ... New York RHP Chien-Ming Wang is to start Wednesday against Houston in Kissimmee because the Yankees' minor leaguers have not started games. Wang missed the final 3 1/2 months last season after hurting a foot running the bases in an interleague game at the Astros. ``No swinging, no running,' Girardi said. ``Stand in the corner of the box and look good taking pitches.' ... The Phillies sent RHPs Andrew Carpenter, Drew Naylor, Blaine Neal and Scott Nestor, LHPs Antonio Bastardo and Sergio Escalona, Cs Tuffy Gosewisch and Paul Hoover, and INFs Mike Cervenak, J.J. Furmaniak, Jorge Velandia and Andy Tracy to their minor league camp. ... Florida returned pitcher Zack Kroenke, taken in last year's winter meeting draft, to the Yankees.