Yankees Spring Training Game 14: Nova throws 4 scoreless in win

Spring Training second team secures tonight's win after Ivan Nova pitches four scoreless.

New York Yankees 6 – Boston Red Sox 3

The Yankees made the trip to visit the Boston Red Sox and turned a pitcher's duel in their favor.

In the first inning, Ivan Nova gave up an unfortunate run after some heads up base running by outfielder Rusney Castillo. After a single by Castillo, Dustin Pedroia hit a single to center field that was casually tossed into the infield, allowing Castillo to take an extra base. David Ortiz grounded into a double play but Castillo scored from third to put the Red Sox ahead early.

For the Red Sox, David Price shut down the Yankees through the first two innings, including four strikeouts.

In the third inning, he added his fifth strikeout of the game but surrendered the lead with two outs. Outfielder Aaron Hicks took Price deep to right center field for a solo home run. Price bounced back to finish off four innings of one-run baseball.

Ivan Nova did not get into much trouble over his four innings of work. In the fourth inning, an error and a tough infield single put two on with one out but a pair of ground outs gave him a clean night of work.

In four innings, Ivan Nova allowed one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Nova continues to make a bid for a spot on the Yankees' starting rotation.

The offense faced more tough pitchers after Price exited the game as Craig Kimbrel, Junichi Tazawa and Carson Smith pitched a scoreless inning of work each. By the eighth inning, the game was still tied at one and the Red Sox brought in lefty Robbie Ross Jr.

The Red Sox lefty started the eighth inning by hitting Jonathan Diaz with a pitch. After striking out Chris Parmelee, Ben Gamel hit a double to put two runners in scoring position. Cesar Puello cashed in with a two-run single to center field, breaking the tie. Carlos Corporan was the second out but a throwing error by the pitcher allowed Juan Silva to reach base and Puello to score. Ronald Torreyes kept the good times going with a walk and Cito Culver hit a double to the left field corner, scoring two more runs in a five-run eighth inning.

Another competitor for a spot in the Yankees' staff, Bryan Mitchell followed Nova and pitched three scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout. Reliever Nick Rumbelow looked to improve his standing in the Yankees depth chart with his relief appearance tonight.

Rumbelow spread four singles in a rough inning of work where a run scored for the Red Sox. The Red Sox added one more run in the ninth inning against reliever Nick Goody but the Yankees finished off the win with an impressive showing by the second string lineup.

Win – Bryan Mitchell

Loss – Robbie Ross Jr.

Notables

Yankees

*Aaron Hicks – 1 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (1) in the 3rd, RBI (3)

*Cesar Puello – 1 for 2, R, 2 RBI (2)

Red Sox

*Sam Travis – 2 for 2, 2B, RBI (1)

*Brock Holt – 2 for 2, R