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Yankees Spring Training Game 11: Pineda shines bright in debut

Yankees-logoDetroit Tigers 2 — New York Yankees 3

In tonight’s game at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Michael Pineda‘s campaign for the fifth spot in the Yankees rotation began. He made his Spring debut in the fifth inning of the game. The first batter he faced was former Yankee farmhand, outfielder Austin Jackson. The Tigers outfielder would strikeout looking for the first out. Pineda would give up a single but he would keep the Tigers off the scoreboard with a force out at second and his second strikeout of the inning.

Michael Pineda would come out for the sixth inning and would strikeout outfielder Rajai Davis for the first out. He would get a fly out for the second out and then, one of the bigger challenges in the league, Miguel Cabrera, would strikeout swinging against the 25-year old righty.

In two innings, Michael Pineda allowed one hit without a walk or a run scoring. He struck out four. Scouts at the game believe his command was amazing and his fastball clocked in between 90 to 93 MPH.

Not to be lost in the hype of Michael Pineda’s debut is a successful start by Hiroki Kuroda. The Japanese righty went 2.2 scoreless innings with one hit and one walk while striking out five. Kuroda reached the pitch limit set for him this Spring so reliever Shawn Kelley was called on to get the last out of the third inning. In his second appearance, David Robertson would have an efficient scoreless inning of work, striking out one and throwing just five pitches.

A pitcher that did not do well in tonight’s game is lefty Matt Thornton. With a two-run lead, Thornton got the first out of the seventh inning before falling apart. Catcher Alex Avila would hit a single and be pinch-run for. Austin Jackson would hit a run-scoring triple to cut their deficit in half. Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi and prospect Nick Castellanos would hit back-to-back singles and the game would be tied. Thornton would get the last two outs but the damage would be done.

In one inning, Matt Thornton allowed two runs on four hits while striking out one.

On the offensive side, Derek Jeter would continue to find his stroke, going two-for two in his first two plate appearances and walking on his last one. The two runs for the Yankees came on the two-run home run by rightfielder Carlos Beltran in the third inning, his second home run of the Spring.