Marcus Stroman‘s second start of spring training was a rough one as the Yankees suffered an 11-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves Sunday at CoolToday Park in Venice, Fla.
Takeaways
-
While the Yankees await word on starting pitcher Luis Gil, who underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Saturday, Stroman did not fare well in an opportunity to make his case for a rotation spot. He allowed four runs on as many hits, including back-to-back homers with two outs in the first inning. Stroman, who threw 28 strikes on 43 pitches, had one strikeout and hit a batter. For someone who was an initial no-show and entered spring training saying that he would not pitch in the bullpen if asked, Stroman has yet to prove his worth.
-
Austin Wells has a hit in each of his first three spring training games this year. He returned to the lineup for the first time since this past Friday’s 6-3 win over the Blue Jays and led off the game with a single up the middle. Wells, who followed with strikeouts swinging in the third and fifth innings, has a single, double and home run through seven at-bats since debuting last Wednesday.
-
Jasson Dominguez went hitless with an 0-for-3 day for the second straight game but took a step in the right direction defensively. With one out and a runner on second base in the second inning, Jarred Kelenic‘s deep fly ball to the warning track in left field saw Dominguez make the play without issue and spare Stroman for an eventual scoreless frame. Dominguez is a work in progress, but the Yankees need him to figure out left field. After he lost a ball in the sun during last Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, perhaps the worst is behind him.
-
Oswald Peraza‘s push to make the team continued with a 1-for-3 day from the ninth spot while starting at third base. Peraza, who also walked, had a second-inning single up the middle but the inning ended on Pablo Reyes getting thrown out at third base while attempting to advance from first. The inning-ending out negated a would-be RBI single for Peraza — Oswaldo Cabrera, who was going from second base to home plate, ultimately did not score.
Who’s the MVP?
Austin Riley, whose 2-for-3 day from the third spot included the home run that put the Braves on the board and broke things open. Riley added an RBI double off Stroman with one out in the second inning that push Atlanta’s lead to 3-0.
What’s next
The Yankees return to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., for Monday’s 6:35 p.m. game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Max Fried is set to start for New York and make his spring debut after he signed an eight-year, $218 million contract in December as the Yankees’ marquee offseason addition.
Read the full article here
