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TAMPA, FL - MARCH 09: Masahiro Tanaka of New York Yankees throws during a spring training workout on March 9, 2016 in Tampa,FL, United States. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

Yankees Spring Training Game 11: Clutch hitting strong in win

Baltimore Orioles 1 – New York Yankees 7

After visiting the Baltimore Orioles yesterday, the Yankees hosted the visiting Orioles today.

Masahiro Tanaka got today’s start and had smooth sailing throughout his three innings of work today. After a perfect first inning with two strikeouts, he gave up a single and a throwing error put runners on the corners but he worked out of the trouble. In the third inning, his slider caught the elbow of Paul Janish but a double play erased that blip on the brief radar as he finished off his day successfully.

In three innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed no runs on one hit while striking out three as he still stands as a potential option for Opening Day.

The Yankees offense got started early. With two outs in the first inning, Alex Rodriguez got a single. Mark Teixeira put two into scoring position with a double and Brian McCann, with the softest hit of the inning, dropped a single into center field to put the Yankees ahead by two. In the second inning, Didi Gregorius led off with a single and stole second with one out. After the second out, Jacoby Ellsbury dropped a single into center field to bring home Gregorius and extend the Yankees lead to three.

The two-out magic kept going in the third inning too. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira went down on strikes before Brian McCann and Starlin Castro reached on a pair of walks. A pitching change for the Orioles made little difference to Didi Gregorius, who hit a single to left field that scored McCann from second base. Aaron Judge walked on a full count to extend the inning to Chris Denorfia and Jacoby Ellsbury, who proceeded to bring home three runs on a pair of singles.

After three innings, the Yankees were ahead, 7-0. All seven of the Yankees’ runs came with two outs.

Chasen Shreve came on for the fourth inning and sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a ground out. Shreve got the first lefty of the fifth inning out before Nick Rumbelow took over. Rumbelow finished the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless sixth inning to maintain the shutout.

Vicente Campos got the seventh inning but gave up the Orioles’ first run of the game in part due to an error by center fielder Slade Heathcott. On a single to center field by outfielder Nolan Reimold, Heathcott misplayed the ground ball, allowing Reimold to advance to second. A ground out and a sacrifice fly brought home the unearned run. Campos followed with a scoreless eighth inning and Tyler Olson finished the game to lock up the Yankees win.

 

Win – Masahiro Tanaka

Loss – Mike Wright

 

Notables

Orioles

*Nolan Reimold – 1 for 3, R

Yankees

*Didi Gregorius – 3 for 3, 2 R, RBI (2)

*Jacoby Ellsbury – 2 for 3, 2 RBI (2)

*Brian McCann – 1 for 2, R, BB, 2 RBI (2)