New York Yankees 3 – Miami Marlins 2
With Spring Training wrapped up, the Yankees made the trip to the Miami Marlins for the first of two exhibition games.
Through the first three innings, Nathan Eovaldi dodged danger, allowing six base runners without a run scoring while Jose Fernandez was dominant. In the first three innings, Fernandez allowed one hit while striking out four.
In the fourth inning, the Yankees got to Fernandez when Brett Gardner reached the second deck in right field for a solo home run to break the scoreless tie. Meanwhile, Eovaldi settled down after the rough three innings, retiring seven in a row heading into sixth inning. Giancarlo snapped the seven in a row with a single to center field. After an unusual sacrifice bunt by the five hitter; Martin Prado and J.T. Realmuto hit a pair of singles with Realmuto bringing home the tying run. One more base runner ended Eovaldi’s night. Dellin Betances cleaned up the inning with five pitches when he got a fly out to shallow left field where Aaron Hicks defends. The acquired outfielder let loose a throw home to get the outfield assist for the double play to end the inning.
In 5 1/3 innings, Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. In his 88 pitches, 51 went for strikes as he tunes up for the regular season.
The game remained tied at 1 until the eighth inning. Luis Cessa started the inning with a walk and that came back to haunt him. After a pair of singles loaded the bases, Chris Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to break the tie and put the Marlins ahead by one. Cessa finished the inning but the damage was done.
Marlins closer A.J. Ramos entered for the ninth inning but issued a leadoff walk to Aaron Hicks. Lane Adams came up big against Ramos when he hit a home run o center field for a two-run home run, changing the one-run deficit into a one-run lead. Nick Goody finished the game with a perfect ninth inning, seizing the win for the Yankees.
Win – Luis Cessa
Loss – A.J. Ramos
Save – Nick Goody
Notables
Yankees
*Lane Adams – 1 for 1, R, Two-Run Home Run in the 9th, 2 RBI
*Brett Gardner – 1 for 2, R, BB, Solo Home Run in the 4th, RBI
Marlins
*J.T. Realmuto – 2 for 3, RBI
*Martin Prado – 2 for 3
