The New York Yankees were at Steinbrenner Field tonight to face the Baltimore Orioles. It was Gerrit Cole’s fifth start of the season. He faced Jo Lopez as the opposing pitcher. It was 82 degrees at game-time with cloudy skies at the start of the game. Cole’s record for the spring was 3-0 with an ERA of 3.55 before tonight’s game. The Orioles won the game 4-1.
At the top of the first, Gerrit Cole faced Cedric Mullins, who ground out. Trey Mancini struck out swinging, and Mountcastle ground out for a quick 1-2-3 inning for Cole and the Yankees. At the bottom DJ LeMahieu led off for the Yankees; he ground out on the 9th pitch from Lopez. Aaron Judge doubled to right. Brett Gardner ground out to second. Giancarlo Stanton ground out to third for a fast inning for both pitchers. Aaron Judge was left on base.
Maikel Franco faced Cole in the second. He reached on a fielding error by Tyler Wade. Wade followed with another fielding error reaching Rio Ruiz for two on for the Orioles. With no outs, Cole faced Autin Hays; he flew out. Freddie Galvis flew out, and Sisco flew out to Mike Tauchman. At the bottom, Gary Sanchez ground out; Mike Tauchman singled, Tyler Wade ground out to second. Chris Gitten struck out to end the inning. No score.
Yomer Sanchez led off the third inning against Cole. Sanchez struck out for Cole’s third strikeout. Mullins flew out, and Mancini had a line-drive single, but Mountcastle lined out to Brett Gardner. At the New York Yankees half, Andrew Velazquez ground out. At the top of the lineup, LeMahieu ground out. Judge was called out on strikes. No score.
Franco again faced Cole at the top of the fourth. Franco ground out to first baseman Chris Gittens. Ruiz ground out, and Hays ground out for another good inning for Cole. Brett Gardner popped out in the Yankee’s half of the fourth. Stanton ground out, and Sanchez reached on an Oriole error. Tauchman walked, Wade made the final out of the inning as there still was no scoring in the game.
Calvis ground out for Cole in the fifth. Sisco ground out, and Sanchez ground out for another quick inning for Cole. Chris Gittens started the bottom with a strikeout. Velazquez ground out, Lemahieu also ground out for the fastest inning of the game.
Gerrit Cole was the first Yankee pitcher to pitch six innings in a spring training game. Mullins singled and stole second. Mancini struck out, and Mountcastle flew out to Judge. Franco flew out to right, and Cole was removed from the game with 82 pitches thrown. Darren O’Day replaced him, striking out Franco. This was Gerrit Cole’s final start of spring training, and he had his best outing pitching 5.2 innings of scoreless ball and allowing only two hits. He reduced his ERA from 3.55 to 2.45. At the bottom of the sixth, Judge was called out on strikes, and Brett Gardner flew out. Giancarlo Stanton struck out swinging to end the inning. Still no score.
Aroldis Chapman came out to pitch the seventh inning. Ruiz singled off of Chapman. A wild pitch allowed Ruiz to go to second. Hays singled, scoring Ruiz for the Orioles 1 run lead. Glavis doubled. Sisco walked and the second wild pitch of the inning by Chapman scored Westburg pinch-running for Hays. Sanchez struck out, but Chapman was pulled from the game by manager Aaron Boone. He was replaced by Nick Goody, who walked Mullins. Mancini ground into a double play to end the Orioles half, but the O’s picked up 3 runs. Orioles 3 Yankees 0.
At the bottom, Gary Sanchez struck out, Mike Tauchman walked. Tyler Wade struck out on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. Chris Gittens struck out to end the inning. The Orioles remained 3 up on the New York Yankees.
Chad Green took over for the Yankees in the eighth and ground out Mountcastle, Franco singled, and Urias walked for two men on. Diaz lined out for the second out of the inning. A wild pitch by Green allowed the runners to advance. Westburg was called out on strikes. At the bottom, Tyler Wells, in for his third inning of work, struck out Velazquez. Thairo Estrada ground out, and Amburgey flew out for a quick inning for Wells. Orioles 3 Yankees 0.
Brooks Kriske was out in the ninth to hold down the Orioles. Nick Ciuffo immediately doubled. Richie Martin walked. Stevie Wilkerson ground out to second. Jahmai Jones struck out swinging. Chris Shaw singled, driving in Ciuffo for another Orioles run. Tyler Nevin struck out, leaving two on. With last licks for the Yankees, Gardner doubled, Josh Breaux ground out, Rob Brantly ground out, but Florial pinch-running scored to avoid the shutout. Mike Tauchman walked; Milone replaced him and went to second on defensive indifference. Milone went to third on a wild pitch. Hoy Jun Park walked for men on the corners Armando Alvarez walked. With Velazquez as the tieing run at the plate, struck out to end the game.
Gerrit Cole pitched a great 5.2 innings, not allowing a run. Aroldis Chapman completely bombed, giving the Orioles the win. The Yankee bats were again mostly silent with only three hits in the game. The final score was the Orioles 4 and the New York Yankees 1. The winning pitcher was Tyler Wells, the loser Aroldis Chapman and the save went to Isaac Mattson.