The New York Yankees were at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, today to meet up with the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a beautiful day for a ballgame. The game-time temperature was 86 degrees, it was humid, and the game was played under mostly cloudy skies. The game was a game the Yankees shouldn’t win; they went with a very “B” lineup compared to the Jays A team. Jhoulys Chacin started for the Yankees and Anthony Kay for the Jays. The game was scheduled for 8 innings as agreed upon by both teams. The Yankees won 5-1.
The Yankees learned just before starting the game that last year’s home run leader, Luke Voit, would have to undergo knee surgery and would likely not be back with the team until sometime in May.
Chacin took to the mound at the top of the first. J. Davis ground out to third. Crichuk struck out swinging, and Bichette ground to Wade for the quick inning for Chacin. At the bottom Tyler Wade led off for the Yankees; he bunted but just missed being safe as he limped off the field. Gleyber Torres followed with an off- the-wall double. Gio Urshela went down looking. Clint Frazier ground out to third, leaving Torres stuck at second.
Chacin faced Hernandez, he lined out. Tellez lined directly to a very athletic Chacin for the second out. Gurriel Jr. ground out for Chacin’s second 1-2-3 inning. At the bottom, Mike Ford singled to centerfield. Kyle Higashioka singled, but Ford was forced out at second. Chris Gittens walked, and then Estevan Florial hit the ball so hard off the centerfield wall that “Higgy” couldn’t score from third, but Florial loaded the bases for the Yankees. Grey Allen lined out. Tyler Wade got a long outfield fly out to leave the bases loaded. After two, Yankees, 0 Jays 0.
Alejandro Kirk led off the third inning against Chacin, striking out. Joe Panik walked. Santiago Espinal at the plate Higgy had a passed ball, with Panik advancing to second. Espinal popped out to Ford, who leaned over the fence to make the out. Luis Garcia replaced Jhoulys Chacin. J. Davis was out on four Garcia pitches. Leading off at the bottom for the Yankees was Gleyber Torres, Torres solo homered to left. Urshela ground out. Frazier ground out, and Ford got his second hit of the game. Higashioka base hit up the middle for two on and two outs. Gittens walked, loading the bases again. Florial lined off the pitcher. Florial singled in Ford. Allen lined out the Yankees left, three on again but scored two runs in the inning. Yankees 2 Jays 0.
Crichuk popped out to Torres. Bichette ground out to Wade. Hernandez flew out for a 1-2-3 inning for Luis Garcia. Tyler Wade led off the bottom; he drew a walk. Then stole second. Gleyber Torres hammered another one, this one off the scoreboard scoring him and Wade for the Yankees 4-0 lead. Urshela ground out. Frazier struck out swinging. Mike Ford got his third single of the game. That knocked pitcher Snead out of the game, replaced by AJ Cole. Higashioka chopped out. Yankees 4 Jays 0.
Lucas Luetge on the mound at the fifth for the New York Yankees, Tellez struck out swinging. Gurriel Jr. doubled off the left-field wall. Kirk struck out. Panik ground out, stranding Gurriel Jr. At the bottom, Gittens flew out to center. Florial singled. Lemahieu flew out to center. Allen lined out to second. A quick inning for both pitchers.
Kyle Barraclough on the mound for the Yankees, Espinal flew out to left. J.Davis ground out. Crichuk ground out. The Yankees have had 4 1-2-3 innings out of five played. Wade faced Castro and struck out swinging. Velazquez lined out. Urshela hit triple to right, Frazier ended the inning by striking out.
Albert Abreu was out for the seventh, facing Bichette, who flew to far-right, but a really sweet catch by Greg Allen got him out. Bec lined out, and Tellez out, another 1-2-3 inning for Yankee pitching. Mike Ford homered for his fourth hit of the game. Higashioka struck out, Brito singled. Allen forced out. Yankees 5 Jays 0.
With last licks on the line for the Toronto Blue Jays, Tyler Lyons took to the mound to close it out for the Yankees. Forest Wall doubled. McGuire flew out, Panik ground out. Espinal singled to left. Urena struck out to end the game. The final score was 5-1 New York Yankees. The winning pitcher was Luis Garcia and the loser Anthony Kay. Gleyber Torres had a double and two home runs in the game, and Mike Ford had a homer in a 4 for 4 game.