Ramon Flores Leads Yankees To Late Victory

The New York Yankees took on the Detroit Tigers in their last night game of the Spring yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Starting for the Yanks was Esmil Rogers (battling Adam Warren for the fifth rotation spot). For the Tigers Anibal Sanchez would take the mound.

Esmil Rogers

Rogers’ last outing didn’t help his argument in the battle with Adam Warren for the last rotation spot, neither did last night’s. He went three innings, gave up five runs, two walks, and two strikeouts. He left the game with the Yankees down by three runs.

Though he got off to a good start in his shorter inning appearances at the start of the Spring, the last two haven’t been anywhere near what Warren is showing right now. It’s safe to say Warren will be the Yanks fifth starting pitcher, but this in no way takes away from Esmil’s promise. He is one of the top arms in the Yankees refurbished bullpen, and will help the team substantially throughout the season.

Starting Bats

The Yankees (opening day) starters got some some decent hits on Tigers’ Anibal Sanchez. Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira both doubled, while Brett Gardner and Stephen Drew singled (Drew was called out at second).

Teixeira had two opposite field hits tonight, he’d go 2-2 with a walk as well. Imagine the damage he can do this year if he is able to control that pull in certain situations. Brian McCann went 0-3 and Alex Rodriguez has a 1-2 night, with a walk. A-Rod continues to show a good eye this Spring, he now has a .394 OBP. Though the team got a good amount of men on base, Anibal would keep the Yanks at two runs heading into the sixth.

Closer Battle

Rogers would leave the game after three innings of work, for the fourth and fifth, it’d be Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. Miller wouldn’t allow a hit, he also had a strikeout, and a walk. Betances would give up a run on a single, and a walk. To put how this ‘battle’ is going into perspective here are their updated stats for the Spring.

Andrew Miller: Six innings pitched, eight Ks, three hits, and one earned run.

Dellin Betances: Five innings pitched, four Ks, six hits, and three earned runs.

There’s still a lot of Spring ball to be played. Dellin has told reporters he needs more work to be fully back in the groove of things, but right now Miller has the edge. Either way, who ever is the team’s closer I won’t be complaining.

Justin Wilson came on to pitch the sixth and continued to silently make his presence known throughout the team. In 6.1 IP this Spring he has eight strikeouts, two hits, no runs. In tonight’s game he’d be perfect and added on a K.

Youth Comes Through Again

Nick Rumbelow would come in to start the seventh inning, he got two quick outs by striking out Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez. From now until the the end of the game would be as action packed as a Spring Training game could be.

The Tigers would score two runs in the seventh (with two outs), with help of an Alex Avila double, and an error on Yankees first baseman Francisco Arcia. That would have the score at 8-2 heading into the bottom of the inning.

Next would be the Yankees turn to dig into the Tigers six run lead. Chris Young would lead off the inning with a double (Ramon Flores would take his spot running the bases), Didi Gregorius followed with a double of his own (replaced by Nick Noonan on the bases). After a hit batter, and a walk, the bases would be loaded, one out. Arcia would hit a potential double play ball to short, but with a bobble, only one player would be thrown out. John Ryan Murphy would walk, followed by another walk, which would force a run in. The score heading into the eighth would now be 8-5.

In the eighth inning, James Pazos would get three strikeouts, he’d then give the mound to Diego Moreno to pitch the Top of the ninth. Moreno didn’t allow a hit and would later receive the (W) for tonight’s game after the rally that would follow in the bottom of the ninth.

Aaron Judge would start the inning by walking, then stealing (yes Aaron Judge stole a base). Arcia would ground out, Judge to third. Murphy singles to right, Judge scores and makes it a two run game. After a Kyle Higashioka strikeout, Ali Castillo walked, moving Murphy to second. Two on, two out, two balls, two strikes, and Ramon Flores pulls a pitch inside to right field just making it’s way out for a walk-off. It’d be his second homer of the Spring, and boosted his stats up a little.

Whether it’s regular season or Spring Training a walk-off, is always fun to watch, especially when it’s to cap off a come back by the future players of the team.

Some side notes to take from opening day players are Mark Teixeira, Andrew Miller, and Justin Wilson. All had great performances again today. Wilson’s might go a little less noticed with pitching after Miller and Betances, but he’s proving his spot in the bullpen is another solid addition.

Later today the Yankees take on the New York Mets again for second time this week. Masahiro Tanaka will start, and Dellin will be making his first back-to-back appearance this Spring looking for a stronger output than yesterday.

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