Recap: Yankees Blown Out in Jeter’s Spring Debut
Feb 27, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) tags out Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison (5) as he attempted to steal during the fifth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees were blown out by the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 8-2 at George M. Steinbrenner Field Thursday. The loss dropped the Yankees to 0-2 so far this spring…now let’s get to the important stuff. Derek Jeter played in his first game since the Yankees announced he was done for the remainder of the season, last September.
This was also Jeter’s first time playing since he announced his intentions to retire following this upcoming season, mere weeks ago. Jeter played five innings at shortstop, going 0-for-2. The first of those at-bats was a first-inning double play, the second a close play at first on a bouncer to deep third. Jeter looked solid back at short, handling a throw from catcher Francisco Cervelli that ended the top of the fifth inning on a caught stealing. Overall, it was a pretty successful day for Jeter. There were also some other bright spots besides Jeter. Starting pitcher David Phelps, after giving up a first inning home run to Gregory Polanco, rebounded to give the Yankees two solid innings in which he struck out four batters, and worked around a double, in his quest to win the fifth spot in the Yankees’ starting rotation.
Third baseman Kelly Johnson, who manager Joe Girardi has said the Yankees “expect to be our third baseman” come Opening Day, ripped an RBI double to deep center in the fifth, to tie the score at one. With the game knotted at two in the eighth, the Yankees brought in relief pitcher Robert Coello, who has been given Joba Chamberlain‘s old number of 62…and boy did he look as bad. After giving up a three-run shot to Mel Rojas Jr., he proceeded to give up two more runs on an RBI single, and subsequently was removed from the game, after throwing 31 pitches, and only getting one out, in what would turn out to be an 8-2 loss for the Bombers.
The Yankees will play again tomorrow against the Detroit Tigers at 1:05 P.M. Adam Warren will take the hill for the Yankees, looking to cement his spot in the starting rotation as well. Expect to see more Jeter tomorrow, in what is only the beginning of what is sure to be a fun season for Jeter and the Yankees.