New York Yankees Recap: Yankees Drop Ugly Game to Orioles in Extras

Just one day after C.C. Sabathia pitched well enough to keep the No. 5 starter competition going, Ivan Nova needed one as well. Unfortunately for him, he was hit hard and may have slipped further behind Sabathia for that final spot. It was the opposite of a pitching duel as the game ended up going 10 innings, with the Yankees losing a heartbreaker, 11-10.

Nova went 4.2 innings and allowed six runs on five hits, three of them home runs, against the Baltimore Orioles. He also allowed three walks and struck out five in the game. His command was off as he gave up the three home runs on fastballs where he missed his spots.

After looking sharp and sitting the Orioles in order in the first inning, Nova was given a lead for the bottom of the second inning. Right fielder Chris Denorfia hit a three-run home run off of Chris Tillman, which scored first baseman Dustin Ackley and designated hitter Chris Parmelee.

With a three-run cushion, Nova coughed up his first home run of the day to Orioles’ right fielder Mark Trumbo in the bottom of the second inning.

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Luckily for Nova, the Yankees bounced back and scored two more runs in the top of the third inning. Second baseman Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly, which scored left fielder Brett Gardner. The next batter, third baseman Chase Headley singled into right field, which scored shortstop Didi Gregorius.

Now with a 5-1 lead, Nova came back out for the third inning. He then allowed his second home run of the day, a two-run shot off the bat of Orioles’ catcher Caleb Joseph.

With the Yankees clinging to that 5-3 lead, Nova again gave up a home run. This time it was Orioles’ shortstop J.J. Hardy, who connected for a two-run shot, tying the game at five in the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Nova allowed a Chris Davis single, on a play that could have been made. The ball deflected off of Ackley and kicked to Castro, who threw wide of the base and off of Nova’s glove. That was the end of Nova’s day, as the Yankees turned to Johnny Barbato, who got out of the inning.

Barbato then threw a scoreless sixth inning, while striking out one batter. Another strong outing by Barbato, as he now has 11 strikeouts during the spring.

The Yankees retook the lead in the seventh inning as Gardner tripled to score Cesar Puello. Ronald Torreyes, who replaced Castro, hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Ben Gamel, who replaced Gardner.

Nick Goody came out for the bottom half of the inning with a 7-6 lead, but gave up a home run to Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. It was the fourth home run of the day by Baltimore, and wasn’t their last.

Gamel grounded out in the top of the eighth inning to score Kyle Higashioka. The 8-7 lead appeared to be safe, but the Orioles tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Nick Rumbelow allowed the game-tying home run to first batter he saw, Nolan Reimold.

Right fielder Jake Skole singled in Higashioka in the top of the 10^th inning to give the Yankees a 9-8 lead. They added another run as Pete Kozma grounded into a double play, which scored Skole.

The Orioles didn’t go quietly in the bottom of the 10^th inning, as they were able to score three runs to win the game. Matt Tracy entered the game with hopes of giving the Yankees the win, but couldn’t hold Baltimore.

Two errors by third baseman Rob Refsnyder, including one on a tough hop that hit him in the face, and a walk to Paul Janish loaded the bases. Refsnyder was removed from the game and replaced by Dan Fiorito. Reimold singled in Christian Walker to bring the Orioles within one.

Garabez Rosa singled to center field, scoring Daniel Alvarez and Janish to win the game for Baltimore. It was an all-around ugly game for both teams, as there were six home runs hit, 21 runs scored and 24 hits in the game.

The Yankees face Toronto on Saturday at 1:07 p.m. at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.