Yankees lose to the Tigers 15 to 11 in an epic battle!
Today’s New York Yankee game was at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, where the Yankees meet the Detroit Tigers for a 1:05 pm game. The game-time temperature as quite warm at 87 degrees and also quite windy under Partly Cloudy skies. RHP Casey Mise started for the Tigers, and he faced Mike Tauchman, who had yet to get a hit this spring. Mike ground out, Gio Urshela, and Miguel Andujar both struck out for an easy first for Mise. Gerrit Cole took the mound, and even though it was an away park, he received applause when he was announced. Victor Reyes immediately got a leadoff double off Cole. Travis Demeritte homered for the 2-1 early Tiger lead. Veteran Miguel Cabrera followed with back to back homers. Christin Stewart struck out, Candelario ground out in a Cole assisted out. Brandon Dixon walked, and Jordy Mercer struck out on Cole’s 27th pitch of the inning.
At the second, Mise faced Gary Sanchez, Clint Frazier, and Kyle Higashioka. Sanchez walked, Frazier ground into a double play. Higashioka also ground out to end the half. Cole back out for the second faced Jake Rogers, who singled. Willi Castro struck out, Reyes flew out, and Demeritte hit a triple off the wall scoring Rogers for the 4-0 Tiger lead. Cabrera followed by hitting his second long shot as Cole got hammered, 6-0 Tigers.
Alex Faedo came out in the third for the Tigers and allowed a double to the spring training Yankee star Rosell Herrera. Thairo Estrada struck out, Trey Amburgey was out swinging, and Tauchman and Urshela walked to load the bases for Andujar, who made his first appearance defending first base today. Miguel goes to the wall driving in 2 runs for the Yankees and knocking Faedo out of the game. Baez took over fore Faedo facing Gary Sanchez, who struck out swinging ending the Yankee threat and leaving two on base. Brooks Kriske took over for Cole and got Candelario to fly out to Frazier. Dixon followed with a homer to center for the Tigers 5th homer of the game. Mercer singled on a ball that was misplayed at first by Andujar. Rogers struck out, and Castro lined out for the final out. Tigers 7 Yankees 2.
John Schreiber pitched for the Tigers in the fourth and got Frazier to ground out. Higgy got his first homer of camp, making it 7-3 Tigers. Rosell Herrera doubled for the second time in the game. Herrera goes to third on a failed put out. Estrada ground out driving in Herrera. Amburgey, Tauchman, and Urshela all walked on 13 pitches, loading the bases with Yankees. New Tiger pitcher was Blackwood. Andujar struck out, looking leaving three Yankees on base. At the bottom, Jordan Montgomery pitched to Reyes who flew out, Demeritte struck out, and Cabrera struck out for the quick Montgomery half. Tigers 7 Yankees 4.
Pitching at the top of the fifth was Matt Manning. Sanchez struck out, Frazier singled, Higgy hit his second home run of the day, Tigers 7-6. Herrera walked for his third on base. Estrada doubled driving in Herrera for the tied game. Amburgey, out at first by Estrada, made it to third. Tauchman singed driving in Estrada for the Yankee lead. Tauchman was caught stealing to end the inning, Yankees 8 Tigers 7. Candelario homered in the bottom to tie the score back up at 8.
Manning was back out for the sixth. Urshela struck out, Andujar ground out, and Sanchez ground out for the third out. Monty gave Rogers a homer to lead off the bottom. Castro flew out, and Azocar homered to center for the second home run for the Tigers. Bonifacio doubled; Policelli also homered to left, making it 12-8 Tigers. Woodrow flew out. Lugo singled on a Yankee error. Schwindel struck out, but the Tigers picked up four runs. At the end of six, it was 12-8 Tigers.
In the seventh Gittens ground out, Higgy ground out, and Thole reached on a line drive off Cabrera’s glove. Estrada stuck out to end the half. In the Tiger half, Luis Cessa gave up another two runs caused by a triple by Alcantara. Gibson singled driving in the 15th Tiger run. Heading to the 8th, Stowers struck out, Ben reached when hit by a pitch, Aguilar lined out, Lockridge singled, and Duran tripled driving in two Yankee runs. Gittens struck out, but the Yankees pulled closer, Tigers 15, Yankees 10. At the bottom of the eight failed to score against Cessa.
With last licks for the Yankees in the ninth Sawyer ground out, Thole flew out, and Castillo as the last hope for the Yankees kept them alive with a two-out double. Stowers in his second at-bat popped one to no man’s land in center driving in Castillo, getting the Yankees one run closer. Ruta flew out to right, and that was the ball game. Final score Tigers 15 Yankees 11.
This was a battle for both teams. Cole got hammered, giving up six runs in his two-inning outing. Montgomery gave up four runs in his two innings. Lessa gave up three long balls. At one point, the Yankees fought their way back to an 8-8 tie, but then Monty gave his four runs. This was a homer-happy game with the wind blowing out, but the Tigers took better advantage of it, hitting nine long balls. Catcher Kyle Higashioka hit both Yankee home runs. The winning pitcher was Manning, and the loser, Montgomery.