Spring Training #GrapefruitGators
The Boston Red Sox hosted the New York Yankees Sunday at 1 p.m. at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, the team’s spring training location in Fort Myers. In front of a sold out crowd, the Red Sox were able to hold the Yankees to three runs in nine innings of play, which eventually concluded in a tie.
The Red Sox were designated a split squad on Sunday. In this case, Boston was able to play two games in one day, one at home and one on the road, at the same time. Usually, the normal starters stay at home and the other players of prospects and non-roster guys have to get on the bus. While some of the team played at JetBlue Sunday afternoon, the rest played against the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Boston trailed behind Baltimore 6-4 at the conclusion of the matchup.
Nothing more Spring Training than a split squad Sunday. pic.twitter.com/JCIpHPhmu6
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 12, 2023
Neck and Neck
The first three innings left the game scoreless. Trevor Houck for the Red Sox started on the mound. Houck struck out the first two batters of the game, thus retiring Yankees Anthony Volpe and Aaron Hicks. At the plate, the Red Sox put two baserunners on in the first against pitcher Yoendrys Gomez. Raimel Tapia and Adam Duvall, who both reached after four balls, were left on first and third respectively.
Houck started the second inning and struck out New York’s Rafael Ortega and Billy McKinney to stop Isiah Kiner-Falefa from scoring. Kiner-Falefa had singled up the middle and stole two bases to reach scoring position. Boston’s bats continued to keep quiet. Only Reese McGuire and Greg Allen reached, who walked and took a pitch to the backside, respectively.
The top of the third started with Yankees’ Jake Bauers deep shot to left. He doubled on the play, but he got caught in a pickle between second and third base on the following fielders-choice play, for Boston’s Christian Koss tagged Bauers out. Anthony Volpe followed up with a double off the right field wall, then Oswaldo Cabrera walked the bases loaded. Houck came in clutch with another Ortega strikeout to stop the momentum. Red Sox Triston Casas doubled to left to begin the teams third offensive run, but he was the only contributor that inning.
On The Board
Kiner-Falefa was the first to reach for the Yankees in the fourth inning. He was followed by Billy McKinney who walked. It was Andres Chaparro who broke the game open with an RBI off of the Green Monster wall in left field to score Kiner-Falefa. The game was sitting at 1-0 Yankees when Jake Bauers earned himself and RBI. Bauers scored McKinney on the play, who tagged at second base. The 2-0 lead inspired a Red Sox pitching change, from Trevor Houck to Chase Shugart. Shugart initiated a double play completed by Christian Arroyo at second base to end the top of the fourth.
The Red Sox spoke back. Yankees Jimmy Cordero took Gomez’s place in the circle. Cordero walked McGuire and then faced Allen, who tripled to the right center gap. McGuire scored to put Boston on the board. Allen stole home during the next at-bat on a bobbled ball by Yankees catcher Rodolfo Duran to tie the game 2-2. Though Tapia tried to keep the momentum going with a base hit through the nine hole, Casas flied out to center to end the inning.
The Final Push
Boston began the fifth with Chris Martin in the circle. Volpe, 21 and top prospect, homered for the Yankees. New York was on top 3-2. Seemingly fired up, the Red Sox defense picked off Aaron Hicks in a sports center-like play in the following at bat thanks to right fielder Rob Refsnyder. Cabrera and Kiner-Falefa grounded out and struck out to conclude the showing.
The Red Sox bats came to play again. Duvall blasted one over the Green Monster to tie the game 3-3, no time wasted. After Arroyo flew out, the Yankees changed to Albert Abreu in the circle. Abreu initiated a ground out and a fly out by Refsnyder and McGuire to end the inning.
Adam Duvall has entered the chat. pic.twitter.com/XqWUocpjeU
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 12, 2023
The Finish Line
The rest of the matchup remained 3-3. Both teams executed solid reps on defense, at the plate and in the circle. Boston’s Zack Kelly and Bryan Mata both got a chance to throw in the competition. New York’s Rom Marinaccio, Greg Weissert and Demarcus Evans got even in the circle as well.
The Red Sox will face the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin Monday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:07 p.m.
