New York Yankees 5 — Pittsburgh Pirates 6
The new faces of the Yankees quickly impacted their debut game in a Yankees uniform. Jacoby Ellsbury led off the game with a hard-fought walk. After a single by Yangervis Solarte and a Carlos Beltran pop out, Brian McCann deposited a single into center field and brought home the first run of the game. Left fielder Ramon Flores would follow with a run-scoring single and the Yankees had an early two-run lead.
In the second inning, Ellsbury would reach base through a walk again and Solarte would get his second hit of the day, a two-run home run to right field, doubling the Yankees lead to four. The Pirates would put two runs on the board after Ivan Nova, the starting pitcher for the Yankees, exited the game.
In 1.1 innings, Nova allowed two runs that scored after he exited the game. He allowed two hits while walking two and striking out one in his Spring debut.
In the seventh inning, Yankees prospect Mason Williams gave the Yankees a three-run lead when he doubled to center field. Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez turned the momentum of the game with a three-run home run off of relief pitcher Chase Whitley. With the game tied, first baseman Chris McGuiness would take the lead after a single off of relief pitcher Preston Claiborne and an error by shortstop Addison Marusnak.
Shortstop Yangervis Solarte had a great day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and hitting a two-run home run. He did commit an error in the field though.
