New York Yankees’ journey in the 2011 MLB season – Part 10
Only seven games were left of Spring Training and the Yankees were still not in their perfect momentum. Out of their first 24 outings, the club had lost 12 including six consecutive defeats from March 10 to 14. Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and
Sergio Mitre were competing for the two open spots behind CC Sabathia, Allan James Burnett and Phil Hughes.
Batting was inconsistent except for Alex Rodriguez, who had extended his hitting streak to 13 games, including five home-run outings. However, the rest of the team was still silent with the bat and manager Joe Girardi was concerned. The games in which the
Yankees’ batting line-up worked were big wins. One of which was a brilliant 8-1 triumph over the Phillies on March 20.
Now the Yankees were to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in their home park at Charlotte Sports at Port Charlotte, Florida on Monday, March 21.
Game 25 of Spring Training: Colon was sharp but the Yankees lose 1-3
With an ambition to cement one of the two open spots behind reliable pitchers, Colon opened with a fierce start and struck-out five batters in his first five innings without allowing any run. The Yankees bat scored a 1-0 lead taking run in the top of the
sixth inning. Colon could not defend the lead though and gave away a one-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The performance however was worthy to make Colon the strong contender of the final spot. His reliever did not support him and gave away a single each in his two innings spell.
As the bat was still not awakened, the Yankees could not chase the 3-2 lead that the Rays had piled until the bottom of the eighth inning. Only Brett Gardner managed to score a run over his two at-bats.
Although the team was not in their full command, they still had hope as they still had to face the Baltimore Orioles in Spring Training. For this, the club moved to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota to face the Orioles for the third time in Spring Training.
Game 26 of Spring Training: Sergio Mitre receives five runs and Yankees lose 2-6
As Colon had tossed five shut-out innings of his six-inning spell, Mitre had to do something extraordinary to impress Girardi to an extent that he could consider him for the one of the two open spots.
Mitre however could not defeat the psychological pressure and gave away five runs on five hits including two home-runs. Mitre gave a single in the first and then received two back-to-back homers, one each by Jake Fox and Luke Scott. After his three innings,
the Yankees had gone under 1-5 and the batting line-up was still not in the mood to come out of their struggling position.
The condition was aggravated when Joba Chamberlain gave away a home-run to J.J. Hardy in the bottom of the fourth inning. A combination of new and veteran hitters could not prove helpful in bringing the Yankees back into the game. Only Nick Swisher touched
a double and a single to lead the Yankees’ offense. Girardi sent all of his 17 hitters to the plate but they could manage only seven hits and two runs over their combined 34 at-bats.
There were still five games to go and Girardi was starting to feel a little concerned. Yankees now had to host Toronto Blue Jays for the fourth time and how the Yankees started their winning momentum will be given in the next part.
Continued in Part 11
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