Detroit Tigers 9 – New York Yankees 10
The beginning of the 2016 season is underway as the first home Spring Training game was adventurous in favor of the Yankees.
Luis Severino was tabbed with the first start of Spring Training and a quick, efficient first inning gave fans plenty to be excited about. Unfortunately, the second inning was the complete opposite. After getting the first out, John Mayberry Jr. got the first hit of the game with a single to center field. Cameron Maybin was hit by a pitch and a walk of Casey McGehee loaded the bases. Another walk of Mike Aviles plated the first run and catcher Bryan Holaday dealt the big blow, a grand slam to left field that put the Yankees in an early 5-0 hole.
In 1 1/3 innings, Severino allowed five runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out two. He had a difficult time pitching from the stretch as he missed location and was hit hard when he did get it in the strike zone.
Nick Rumbelow finished off the second inning but his second inning of work did not go well. J.D. Martinez led off with a triple and came around to score on a one-out single to left field. After three innings, the Tigers led 6-0.
Reliever Tyler Cloyd helped Rumbelow through the third inning and was helped out by a strong throw behind second base from new second baseman Starlin Castro. Cloyd did serve up a solo home run to Ian Kinsler. Meanwhile, the Yankees were held hitless through three perfect innings from Mike Pelfrey.
Pelfrey left after three innings and the Yankees bats woke up. Starting with Starlin Castro hitting a single to center field. Brian McCann went the other way with a high fly ball that the Tigers left fielder lost in the sun, which would not be the first time this comes into play, for a ground-rule double. Mark Teixeira walked to load the bases and another newcomer, Aaron Hicks came through. The Yankees outfielder hit a run-scoring single to right field but was caught between first and second for the second out of the inning. A deep ground-rule double to right field by Dustin Ackley plated two runs and the score was 7-3.
The Yankees continued their rally into the fifth inning. Ben Gamel walked and Donovan Solano hit a double to put two in scoring position. A ground out by Didi Gregorius brought the Yankees within three and a double by Starlin Castro, his second hit in his Yankees debut, brought in another run. After five innings, the Yankees only trailed by two.
Relievers Mark Montgomery, Tyler Olson and Johnny Barbato held the Tigers down while the Yankees continued their rally in the middle of the game. In the sixth inning, outfielder Dustin Fowler led off with a single. Two outs later, outfielder Lane Adams hit a run-scoring double and third baseman Deibinson Romero tied the game with a single. Austin Romine and Chris Parmelee got a one-out rally started in the seventh inning and a would-be out at home turned into only a ground out at first base that put the Yankees ahead.
Barbato pitched a scoreless eighth inning and reliever Nick Goody came in to close out the game. Unfortunately, Goody will not want management to see his outing today as he was hit hard. Jason Krizan led off with a double and Steven Moya got a hold of a hanging slider for a two-run home run, returning the lead back to the Tigers. Goody got out of the inning but the damage was done.
Prospect Jorge Mateo led off the ninth inning and he put his tools to use when he hit a deep fly ball to left field. As it hit the wall, the young shortstop sped around the bases for a leadoff triple. After a ground out, Austin Romine hit an infield single just deep enough to score Mateo and tie the game. Then with two outs, Dustin Fowler hit a high fly ball to left field that, like McCann’s double, was lost in the sun. The fly ball hit the glove of Jason Krizan and hustling pinch-runner Tyler Wade scored from first base.
The Yankees win in walk-off fashion, with an error. What a way to start 2016 Spring Training.
Win – Nick Goody
Loss – Joe Mantiply
Notables
Tigers
*Steven Moya – 1 for 2, R, Two-Run Home Run (1) in the 9th, 2 RBI
*Bryan Holaday – 2 for 3, R, 2B, Grand Slam (1) in the 2nd, 4 RBI
Yankees
*Austin Romine – 2 for 3, 2 R, 2B, RBI
*Starlin Castro – 2 for 3, R, 2B, RBI
