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Spring Training Game 34: Pair of home runs fuel win

New York Yankees 4 — Washington Nationals 3

In the final spring training game, Nathan Eovaldi fine tuned his game with the regular season two days away.

Formerly in the National League East, Nathan Eovaldi faced a familiar foe in the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The Nationals greeted him strongly with a pair of singles. Bryce Harper would walk to load the bases and Ryan Zimmerman would hit a sacrifice fly for the first run of the game. Wilson Ramos would hit a two-run single to center field and the Nationals got out to an early three-run lead.

Against Doug Fister, the Yankees would be held off the board until the fifth inning. Brian McCann would start the fifth inning with an impressive, shift-defying ground ball down the left field line. With the infield shifted to the right, the wide open left field allowed McCann to start the inning with a double. With two outs, Stephen Drew would hit a booming two-run home run to right field. The home run cut the Yankees deficit to just one.

In five innings, Nathan Eovaldi allowed three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out six.

The Yankees would rally in the eighth inning to change the momentum of the game. With one out, Didi Gregorius would hit a hanging fly ball to center field that would drop in for a double. Chris Young would hit with a runner in scoring position and in a big way. A two-run home run to left field would give the Yankees the lead late in the game.

Following the five innings by Eovaldi, a preview of the bullpen expected for opening day was utilized. Chris Martin, Justin Wilson and David Carpenter combined for two scoreless innings with one hit and three strikeouts. Andrew Miller pitched in the eighth inning, allowing two hits but no runs with one strikeout. Dellin Betances took the mound in the ninth inning and allowed one hit and one walk but struck out three to finish the spring on a high note.

Opening day is on Monday! The regular season is almost here.

 

Win – David Carpenter (2-0)

Loss – Drew Storen (0-1)

Save – Dellin Betances (1)

 

Notables

Yankees

*Chris Young – 1 for 1, R, Two-run Home Run (3) in the 8th, 2 RBI (10)

*Stephen Drew – 1 for 2, R, Two-run Home Run (3) in the 5th, 2 RBI (9)

Nationals

*Wilson Ramos – 2 for 3, 2 RBI (8)

*Yunel Escobar – 1 for 3, R

 

Final Yankees Spring Record: 17-16-1