This afternoon the Yankees faced the Detroit Tigers at their home stadium, Publix Park, at Joker Marchant Stadium. The game-time temperature was 68 with bright sunny skies in Lakeland, Florida. It was a perfect day for a ball game. The Tigers starter was RHP Spencer Turnball in his first start of the season. The Yankees used David Hale, who had a 40.50ERA. That’s not a misprint; he in his first game this spring training was got clobbered, giving up three runs in only two-thirds of an inning.
Leading off for the Yankees was Brett Gardner with Ex-Yankee Austin Romine catching behind the plate. Spencer Turnball took the mound; it was the second time he faced the Yankees. In his first outing, he shut down the Yankees for two innings. Gardner ground out. Luke Voit Stuck out. Mike Tauchman hitting from the left also struck out for the quick one, two, three inning for Turnball. At the bottom, David Hale faced the centerfielder Harold Castro who ground out to third. Willi Castro followed flying out to Rosell Herrera. Next was the thirty-five pound lighter Miguel Cabrera that struck out.
At the top of the second Gary Sanchez struck out, Tyler Wade chopped out to second, and Kyle Higashioka flew out to Castro at the track in center. At the bottom, CJ Cron flew out to Gardner, Jonathan Schoop singled, followed by Christin Stewart walking, for two on base. Dawel Lugo singled driving in Schoop, giving the Tigers the early 1-0 lead. Austin Romine with men on the corners singled driving in Stewart for the Tigers 2-0 lead. With another poor outing by David Hale, manager Boone took the ball from him and replaced him with LHP James Reeves to get the last out of the inning. Daz Cameron ground out.
At the top of the third Thairo Estrada, who was playing second today, stepped to the plate and ground out. Rosell Hererra continued his hitting ways with a single; Kyle Holder hit into a double play to end the inning for the Yankees. Dan Otero relieved Reeves, who pitched to only one batter. Harold Castro flew out to Tauchman, Willie Castro tapped to Otero for the second out, and Cabrera ground out while Otero threw only five pitches in the half. At the top of the fourth, Turnball came out for his fourth inning on the mound, but Ron Gardenhire, the trainer, came out and pulled him for Buck Farmer. Gardner walked, Voit, hit into a double play clearing the bases. Tauchman walked, Gary Sanchez, ground out into the force to end the half. Luis Avilan pitched the bottom of the frame. Cron ground out to Voit, Schoop struck out, and Stewart closed out the inning by striking out.
Jose Cisnero out for the fifth, and struck out Wade swinging. Higashioka walked, Estrada, singled, Herrera is making a name for himself as he doubled, (6 for13 in the spring) which tied the score at two. Holder made the second out. Gardner hit long double scoring Herrera for the Yankee 3-2 lead. Voit singles scoring Gardner, and the Yankees went ahead 4-2. That did it for Cisnero, replaced by John Schreiber, who faced Tauchman who struck out to end the half, but the Yankees scored four runs. At the bottom, Brooks Kriske faced the Tigers’ Lugo; Lugo flew out to Herrera. Romine walked, Cameron singled, Romine out at 2nd. H. Castro ground out to third for the final out. Alex Wilson facing Sanchez, Sanchez singled, Tyler Wade popped out, Higashioka flew out, and Estrada popped out as well. Miguel Yajure (nickname Yahoo) took the mound for the Yankees. Kreidler, Stokes Jr., and Vargas struck out as Yajure stuck out the side. Yankees 4 Tigers 2 after six.
Veteran Hector Santiago opened the seventh, facing Herrera. Herrera singled, they brought in pinch-runner Olivares, Holder popped out to center, Peraza walked, Garcia ground to first and the runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd. Tauchman ground out, leaving two on. Alcantara faced Yajure in the bottom lining to center for a single. Greene walked for the second baserunner. Lipcius got a base hit scoring a run as the Tigers trailed 4-3. Haase struck out. Kaleb Ort replaced Yajure. Azocar walked to load the bases. Hill singled tieing the game at four each. Ryan Kreidler grand slammed, clearing the bases as the Tigers went ahead 8-4. Stokes Jr. struck out for the second out. Vargas, the 9th batter of the Tiger half, struck out as the Tigers picked up six runs on four hits.
At the top of the eighth, the Yankee Anthony Volpe faced Franklin Perez, who grounded out. Lockridge singled, Sawyer popped out to the right, Park ground out as the Yankees got one hit and no runs. The Yankees brought out Adonis Rosa, who allowed Alcantara a double. Greene singled, driving in Alcantara on a failed attempt to get him at the plate. Tigers 8, Yankees 4. Lipcius walked, wild pitch Rosa, runners moved up. Haase walked in a run for the Tiger five-run lead. Azocar ground into a double play, but Greene scored. Hill was caught looking. Tigers 10 Yankees 4.
With last licks for the Yankees, the Tigers brought out Sandy Baez to seal the deal for the Tigers. Olivares walked, Aguilar struck out, Peraza doubled, they held Olivares at third. Garcia struck out for the second out. Gilliam made the final out, and that was the ballgame. Tigers 10 and the Yankees 4. The Yankees losing pitcher was Yajure, and the winning Tiger pitcher was Hector Santiago.