The New York Yankees were at Clearwater, Florida, tonight against Joe Girardi’s Philadephia Phillies. Starting for the Yankees was Michael King, and for the Phillies was Matt Moore. It was a warm night for a ballgame, even for Florida at this time of year. It was humid with a game-time temperature of 86 degrees. It was sunny to start the game with only light breezes. Tonight Yankees fans got a look at what most likely will be the Opening Day lineup at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees lost the game as starter Michael King absolutely imploded in Yankee’s 13-12 loss.
DJ LeMahieu was the first to face Matt Moore. He singled on a line drive. Aaron Judge next up was rewarded getting a monster home run, his first of spring training, driving in two runs for the Yankees. Up next was Aaron HIcks, who immediately doubled. Giancarlo Stanton flew out. Luke Voit struck out swinging, and Gleyber Torres walked. Gio Urshela struck out, but the Yankees picked up two runs in the inning. Yankees 2 Phillies 0.
At the bottom, the Yankees sent Mickael King out onto the mound for his third start of the spring. Ex-Yankee McCutchen made first when hit by a pitch. JT Realmuto doubled, moving McCutchin to third. King walked Bryce Harper to load the bases with Phillies with no outs. Rhys Hoskins was hit by another pitch driving in a run. Bohm ground out, but another run scored. Didi Gregorius homered, driving in three runs. Still, with only one out Trevor Lane replaced him; however, Segura doubled. Herrera struck out, and Quinn flew out to finally end an inning with a whole game of scoring. Phillies 5 Yankee 2.
Clint Frazier struck out at the top of the second, Kyle Higashioka flew out, and DJ LeMahieu, the “hitting machine,” singled. Aaron Judge, who homered in the first, grounded out sharply to second to end the Yankee half. Michael King still in for the second, McCutchen singles off King. A pitch hit JT Realmuto as King had absolutely no command hitting 3 Phillies in just two innings. Harper singled, loading the bases again. Hoskins walked in another Phillies run. Bohm struck out for the first out of the inning. Gregorius lined out, and Segura singled, driving in Realmuto as the Phillies had their way with King. Herrera struck out mercifully, allowing King to leave the mound. Phillies 7 Yankees 2 after two innings.
At the top of the third, Aaron Hicks struck out, and Giancarlo Stanton being much more patient at the plate this season, walked. Luke Voit singled, moving Stanton to scoring position. Torres homered, driving in three runs eating away at the Phillies lead. Gio Urshela flew out. Clint Frazier struck out to end the half, but the Yankee Picked up another three turns. At the bottom, surprisingly, Michael King was still on the mound after giving up seven runs. Welcome to spring training. Quinn struck out swinging, McCutchen flew out, and Realmuto grounded out for a quick inning for King.
Kyle Higashioka led off for the New York Yankees in the fourth against Matt Moore in his fourth inning of work. Higgy struck out. LeMahieu lined out, and Aaron Judge walked. Aaron Hicks made the last out of the inning. At the bottom, Michael King was replaced by Jonathan Loaisiga. Hoskings struck out, Hoskins ground out, and Ronald Torreyes struck out for the final out of the inning. Loaisiga has been the best Yankee reliever this spring. The fourth inning was the first inning with no scoring by either team.
For the fifth, Stanton led off flew out to Bryce Harper. Luke Voit walked after a wild pitch Viot advanced to second. Gleyber Torres walked, producing Yankees on the corners. Torres stole second, Urshela struck out, but Voit scored on a wild pitch. Frazier, with one-on and two outs, walked, getting Yankees on the corners again. That drove Alverado out of the game. Higgy against ex-Yankee David Hale ground out into a force out ending the half, but the Yankees did pick up a run. Gregorius against Loaisiga he ground out as did Segura. Herrera popped out to Luke Voit, ending the inning. Phillies 7 Yankees 6.
LeMahieu led off the sixth by walking. Aaron Judge was called out on strikes. Aaron Hicks walked for two on. Stanton struck out, and Luke Voit flew out for the final out, leaving the Yankees scoreless in the inning. Quinn flew out to center, McCutchen ground out, and Realmuto singles and Realmuto doubled, driving in a run. Hoskins flew out to end the inning, but the Phillies picked up another run. Phillies 8 Yankees 6.
Gleyber Torres was called out on strikes, Urshela popped out, and Frazier flew out for a 1-2 -3 inning for pitcher Neris. With Luis Garcia on the mound, Torreyes ground out, Williams lined out, and Philly Luis Garcia ground out to end the quick seventh inning.
At the top of the eighth, Kellin Deglan ground out for the Yankees. Duran ground out, and Floria stuck out. At the bottom Tyler Lyons too over for the New York Yankees. Rojas singled on a line drive. He then stole second. Jankowski struck out. Betancourt walked, given Phillie’s men on the corner. Vierling singled, driving in another run. O’Hoppe homered, driving in two more Phillies runs. Ex-Yankee Torreyes struck out for the third out. Phillies 12 Yankees 6.
With the last licks on the line at the top of the ninth, Chris Gittens homers to right field. Austin Wells ground out softly. Milone walked, Peraza walked for two on and no outs. Alvarez singled for two on, Milone scored. Amburgey struck out, and Deglan singles Peraza scored. Duran doubled, scoring two. Estevan Florial singles driving in two more runs. Chris Gittens struck out, ending the half with a 12-12 tie. Nestor Cortes Jr. came out for the Yankee at the bottom, hoping to hold the Phillies down. Williams singled. Garcia was out on a sac punt. Rojas singled, scoring William from first for the Phillies win in a 25 run game.
Note: Bringing back a pitcher after being pulled can only happen in spring training and is done to give the pitcher more work. However, in the game, Michael King removed himself from any chance at taken the fifth anchor spot in the Yankees rotation. The New York Yankees’ hitting surely gave the Yankees a chance to win this game but couldn’t quite get there in 9 innings. The Phillies won the game 13-12.