Yankees Recap: Castro’s Two-Run Blast Powers Yankees to Victory

Starlin Castro‘s two-run home run was all the offense the New York Yankees (5-8) needed Wednesday as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays (10-3) 2-1 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.

Castro’s home run came in the bottom of the second inning when he launched the first pitch he saw from Blue Jay’s starter Drew Hutchinson over the right-center field wall. It was Castro’s first home run of the spring.

The 25-year-old former Chicago Cub has been on a tear since becoming a Yankee. So far this spring, Castro is hitting .429 with a home run, two doubles and seven RBIs.

Nathan Eovaldi got the start for the Bronx Bombers and collected two strikeouts over two scoreless innings of work en route to his first victory of the spring.

Vinnie Pestano, Aroldis Chapman, Diego Moreno, Branden Pinder, James Pazos, Richard Bleier and Kirby Yates all pitched an inning for New York in the win.

Toronto’s lone run came in the top of the eighth inning when Andy Burns scored on an RBI double by Roemon Fields off Bleier.

Things got interesting in the ninth inning when Dalton Pompey tripled off Yates with one out and nobody on.

But, Yates wiggled his way out of a jam to earn his first save this spring.

Hutchinson was tagged with his first loss of the spring after giving up two runs on four hits over 4.2 innings.

Brett Gardner made his spring debut for the Yankees, going o-2 with a strikeout.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Chase Headley and Alex Rodriguez each collected a hit in Wednesday’s action.

Next up for the Yankees is a trip to Bradenton, Fla. to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday at 1:05 p.m.