New York Yankees Spring Training Game Recap: Rodriguez Homers, Phillies Defeat Yankees

Despite a two-run home run from Alex Rodriguez on his first swing of the spring, the New York Yankees (1-1) lost to the Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) 13-4 Thursday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.

Rodriguez launched his first long ball of the spring in the bottom of the first inning off Phillies’ starter Adam Morgan. The home run, which soared over the left field wall, gave the Bronx Bombers a 2-1 lead at the end of the first inning.

Maikel Franco‘s solo home run in the top of the fourth inning tied the game at 2-2. It was also Franco’s first homer of the spring.

The Yankees broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning when Phillies’ reliever Alec Asher walked Lane Adams with the bases loaded. It was 3-2 Yankees after four innings.

But, Philadelphia’s offense responded with four runs in the top of the fifth inning.

After Jacob Lindgren loaded the bases courtesy of two walks and a hit batter, he walked Franco, which tied the game at 3-3.

Anthony Swarzak replaced Lindgren after the walk to Franco. A two-RBI single by first baseman Darin Ruf and an RBI single from Tyler Goeddel, both off Swarzak, gave the Phillies a 6-3 advantage.

Slade Heathcott scored on an RBI single by Deibinson Romero in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 6-4 Phillies. However, that was as close as the Yankees were going to get.

Philadelphia scored twice in the sixth inning, three times in the seventh inning, once in the eighth inning and once in the ninth inning en route to a 13-4 victory.

The Phillies slugged out 15 hits and were 7-17 with runners in scoring position as a team.

Ruf went 2-5 and lead the Phillies with three RBIs. Center fielder Roman Quinn homered, tripled and drove in two runs in the win.

Ivan Nova got the start for the Yankees and surrendered one run on two hits in two innings of work.

The Yankees used seven pitchers after Nova Thursday, including Diego Moreno, Lindgren, Swarzak, James Pazos, Branden Pinder, Tyler Webb and Brady Lail.

Like Lindgren and Swarzak, Pazos struggled. The 24-year-old gave up three runs on two hits and walked a batter in just two-thirds of an inning. Lindgren, Swarzak and Pazos combined to give up nine runs on six hits in two innings of work. The trio also issued four combined walks.

Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira both singled in the loss. Third baseman Chase Headley added a double and went 1-3.

Top prospect Aaron Judge struggled offensively, striking out in both of his at-bats. Rob Refsnyder, Gary Sanchez and Jorge Mateo were also hitless on the afternoon.

Asher, who struck out four and gave up a run over two innings, got the win Thursday. It is his first win of the spring. Lindgren takes his first loss of the spring after giving up four runs and walking three batters in one-third of an inning.

Next up for the Yankees is a road matchup against the Detroit Tigers on Friday at 1:05 p.m.