Yankees Recap: Group effort carries Yankees to victory

By Caleb Gebrewold | Mar 6, 2015

The New York Yankees took on Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies with the projected starting infield on-hand for the split-squad matchup. Hamels, someone the Yankees could target, was excellent. He pitched two innings, allowed one hit, and recorded two strikeouts.

Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell had an equally impressive day, as he also threw two innings, allowed one hit (the only time the ball left the infield and was erased by a double play), and recorded two strikeouts. Mitchell, who looked impressive in his eleven innings last season, is still young (24 on April 19) and could be a factor in the rotation this year (likely will be one of the first call-ups if someone goes down).

More from Yankees News

The game suffered through a 50 minute rain delay in the third inning, and upon its resumption the Yankees were the first to strike in the top of the fourth. First baseman Mark Teixeira led off the inning with a single, and was replaced by pinch runner Kyle Roller. Greg Bird, today’s DH, then doubled to right which scored Roller, and allowed Bird to advance to third on the throw.

Following a Gary Sanchez strikeout, right fielder Ramon Flores singled to right, plating Bird. After Aaron Judge hit into a fielder’s choice, and Slade Heathcott walked, new shortstop Didi Gregorius ripped a double down the right field line, scoring Judge and sending Heathcott to third. A walk by Chase Headley and strike out by Stephen Drew later, and the inning was over after the Yankees had batted around, scoring three, and leaving the bases loaded.

The Yankees extended their lead in the top of the sixth. Flores led off the inning with a fly out, and Judge followed with a walk, but was picked off. Heathcott was also walked, and was driven in by Nick Noonan, who replaced Gregorius in the field in the bottom of the fifth, on a double to right. Eric Jagielo, who ran for Headley in the fourth, grounded out and the inning was over.

The seventh inning saw the Phillies finally get on the board as they cut the lead to 4-1, with a home run by journeyman Xavier Paul off of Mark Montgomery. Montgomery, who was once thought of as a possible heir to Mariano Rivera, struggled in his inning of work, allowing the Phillies to get two hits (as many as all other pitchers allowed today).

While he is now an afterthought, Montgomery is still young enough to regain his prospect status, and maybe even contribute to the bullpen at some point. Unfortunately for Montgomery, the more he struggles, the less likely it seems that will happen, as the Yankees have ample bullpen depth.

While the Yankees had several solid performers today, I would have to say that the Player of the Game should go to Heathcott, who was 1-1 with a single and a run, yet reached base in all three of his plate appearances, showing great patience as he walked twice. Mitchell also had a great game, but Heathcott’s impact was undeniably greater.

The win went to Jaron Long, son of former hitting coach Kevin Long, who pitched a perfect third, while Mike Nesseth took the loss for Philadelphia. Nesseth allowed four hits, two walks, and three earned runs in just one inning, although he did record two strikeouts. Montgomery, Nick Goody, and Matt Tracy all received holds, while Branden Pinder picked up the save, after tossing two hitless innings, where he walked two and recorded one strikeout.

At 7:05 ET tonight, the Yankees take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field, as Carlos Beltran makes his Spring Training debut. Chris Capuano gets the start for the Yankees, while Jeff Locke takes the hill for the Pirates.

Next: Yankees looking for several rebound years

More from Yanks Go Yard

Home/Yankees News