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Yankees Game Recap: Esmil Rogers Struggles As Yankees Lose 7-3 To Phillies

By Antonio Mendes

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The New York Yankees took on the Philadelphia Phillies for the fifth time last night in Tampa. Starting for the Yankees, and battling for the fifth spot in the rotation, Esmil Rogers. Starting for the Phillies was Aaron Harang.

Esmil has been solid this spring so far, and it has helped him jump some names in the rotation spot battle. As for his own battle, it has been consistency, and mechanics. Those mechanics are something he has been working on since he became a Yankee last season.

Last night however did not help his case to become the fifth starter. He pitched 3.1 innings and gave up 5 hits (one being a home run), and 3 ER. His showcase was a perfect example of what Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild is helping him with, because while he did give up 3 ER, he also showed acceptable power in a lot of his pitches.

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After getting getting a quick two outs in the first inning, he would then give up a double to Chase Utley, and a blooper to Ryan Howard which would hold up long enough get Utley home. The second inning he’d give up a deep homer to right field to Cody Asche. In his last inning of work, Chase Utley got on base with a single to right, and with two outs was driven in with a line drive single by Carlos Ruiz.

While it wasn’t a good showing for Esmil Rogers, the Yankees wouldn’t let the game get out of hand that early. Chase Headley would answer to Asche’s home run with a bomb of his own in the second inning, making it a 2-1 game. After Ruiz’s RBI making it 3-1, Stephen Drew would double in the bottom of the third of Harang, Slade Heathcott would score after getting on base by a fielder’s choice. Stephen Drew Would then come on to make it a one run game again with a double to deep right field. The Yanks would eventually tie the game in the sixth by a Carlos Beltran RBI single, scoring was Nick Noonan.

While Rogers didn’t have the best showing, young pitcher Tyler Webb had another solid outing. Webb pitched for 1.2 innings, no hits, and two Ks. Tonight adding to Webb’s stats would give him a total of 5.2 IP so far, six Ks, and five hits this spring. After Webb was taken out in the seventh he’d be replaced by Nick Goody who would take the Loss tonight. He gave up a homer which would be all the Phillies needed, giving them a 4-3 lead. The Phillies would put their finishing touches on Chasen Shreve who gave up three runs in one inning of work.

Notable performances tonight for the Yankees include Chase Headley, and Drew. Headley is hitting .375 this spring and now has two homers in 25 ABs. Though it’s only Spring Training he continues to show exactly why the Yankees brought him back this off-season. Stephen Drew who some are questioning whether he will even be the Yankees starting second baseman this season, has a .167 BA in 24 ABs. However he is showing a better bat in his last couple of games, and now is the time to show it.

It’s that time of March where managers are starting to look closely at their question marks on the roster, they want answers. Joe Girardi let Esmil have a starters worth of innings tonight, and also let him get out of the trouble he put himself in. If players want to be on the roster, they should be getting into starting condition now.

Today the Yankees take on the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Starting for the Yanks will be Adam Warren, who seeing how Rogers pitched tonight, will be looking forward to having a clean day tomorrow.

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