Bullpen Falters As New York Yankees Lose To Baltimore

Mar 4, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher

(41) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Spring Training is a time to get all the kinks out and work on things. When you’re fighting for a roster spot however, you don’t really have that kind of luxury. For David Phelps, this spring is important because he’s fighting for a spot in the rotation and on the roster. Phelps managed to fight his way through 2.2 innings and kept the Yankees in it, but they would fall to the Orioles on this night 3-2.

Phelps got out of the first after two got on with a double play and had second and third with no one out but managed to get three straight outs in the second. The Yanks would take the lead in the bottom half. Francisco Cervelli got his first homer of the spring with a solo shot. Brendan Ryan and Russ Canzler would follow with singles and Yangervis Solarte continued his hot spring with a single of his own to make it 2-0.

Phelps gave up one of the runs right back in the third. David Lough led off the inning with a triple and came around to score on a Jemile Weeks groundout.

From there, Matt Thornton, Brian Gordon and Chris Leroux put up zeros. Chase Whitley came in in the seventh and struggled. Ryan Flaherty led off with a single. Francisco Peguero was hit by a pitch. Quintin Berry singled to tie the game. After a strikeout, Julio Borbon‘s groundout gave the O’s the winning run.

The Yanks will face Tampa Bay tomorrow at 1:05. Another pitcher looking to make the squad, Adam Warren, will face Erik Bedard.