The New York Yankees traveled 26 miles south to face the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Stadium in Dunedin, Florida, yesterday, and using their “B” lineup, came away with their fourth win in a row beating the Blue Jays 5-1. There were some major takeaways from the game sure to please the Yankees.
Deivi Garcia:
Deivi Garcia, if not perfect for the New York Yankees, had another solid outing. He gave Blue Jays Lourdes Gurierl Jr. at the bottom of the second inning; he just gave up one run over three innings of work. It was a double from the Toronto Blue Jays Lourdes Guriel Jr. in the bottom of the second inning. That was the only hit that Garcia gave up. He struck out two and walked two having a spring training start with an ERA of 2.25. The Yankees would liked to have seen him not give up the run, but his start was adequate in his search for a starting role in the regular season.
New York Yankee bullpen:
From inning four through the eighth inning, the New York Yankees bullpen was near perfect, not giving up a run across the five innings. Lucas Luetge had another perfect inning. In his five games and five innings this spring, he has yet to give up a run.
Asher Wojciechowski didn’t allow a run or a hit in his inning, and Nick Nelson, who may be looking for a start in the rotation, allowed no runs and went 1.1 innings allowing just one hit while striking out two Toronto Blue Jays. The 29-year-old Nick Goody, who got the win in the game, pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing no hits, two walks but not runs for an ERA of 1.93 this spring. Glen Otto closed it out for the Yankees. He pitched a solid ninth inning striking out two Jays.
Maxwell McDowell:
The New York Yankees offense was held quiet by Toronto Blue Jays pitching for the first eight innings of the game. But the Yankees came alive at the last minute in the top of the ninth inning. Chris Gittens, who is now batting .429, pushed a run across the plate, followed by Thomas Milone’s single that added another run. But Maxwell McDowell sealed the deal with three RBI’s in the ninth for the New York Yankee 5-1 win.
Historic reunion puts Kay and Sterling in the booth together
For the first time today in 20 years, two broadcast giants will be together again. Michael Kay was a newspaper reporter when he joined Sterling in 1992, and he was with him for 10 years – and four world championships – until he joined the new YES Network in 2002 as its play-by-play man. Now today, the two will have a reunion calling the Phillies game at Steinbrenner Field. The two friends will do it again next Monday in what John Sterling called a wonderful meeting of the two, although not actually together. Kay will be doing the game from his home studio. While Sterling will be doing the game from the YES broadcasting studio in Stamford, Connecticut, it will be a sight to behold.