New York Yankees’ journey in the 2011 MLB season – Part 6
The bad time had started a tough decision was required as the Yankees went to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, to take on the Toronto Blue Jays for the first time in Spring Training. The pressure of two consecutive defeats was severe but Girardi
was aware it could never be an excuse.
However, the options were scarce and Ivan Nova was scheduled to try his fate in a new location, on Friday, March 11. In the second outing of the split squad competition, Nova started in a shaky manner and gave away a single each in the first and the third
inning. It did not cause any problem, as the Yankees’ batting managed to tie it at two-all in the bottom of the third.
However, the decision to bring in David Phelps proved destructive as he gave away six hits and four runs on his single inning. Even Romulo Sanchez could not stop the perfectly swinging batting of the Blue Jays and denoted two more runs in just over one inning.
Blue Jays snatched an 8-2 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning but posted two more off Ryan Pope in the seventh to cement their commanding victory.
In a trouble creating third straight loss, the only positive thing was Curtis Granderson’s third homer of Spring Training.
"He showed (his power) last year," Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi said. "We've seen it all along."
After losing a 10-3 outing, the Yankees realised the gravity of the problem, but they were still unable to create something new.
The Yankees tour to Florida continued with another match-up with the Washington Nationals. A 10-8 blow of the last outing played between the clubs was still in the mind of Girardi.
Alan James Burnett made his third start, restricted the opposition to just two runs in his four innings and struck-out four batters. He received full support from the batters who touched four runs off John Lannan to secure a 4-2 lead until the top of the
fifth inning.
"It's another positive step right there," After the Yankees lost the outing 5-6, Burnett said. "I was able to find my second pitch, my curveball, today. I threw it pretty much where I wanted to."
However, as soon as Burnett handed the ball to Hector Noesi the game started to move towards the Nationals. In the three innings of the Hector Noesi, the Nationals touched four hits and scored three runs to take themselves back into the game.
Game was tied at five-all at the bottom of the seventh inning. In the windy conditions, Yankees managed to drag the game into the ninth inning but Nationals handled to score in the last minute to take a 6-5 win.
Girardi was still not clear about the final rotation for the regular season. The next tour was of the division rivals Minnesota Twins at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 13.
Twins came and destroyed the Yankees 9-2 despite the perfect inning of Mariano Rivera. The 41-year-old closer struck-out three batters in the top of the sixth.
Regardless of the result, Girardi was pleased of his veteran closer. "Mo has a plan and regiment, and it works for him. He does it as good as anybody I've seen."
Only 13 games were left in Spring Training but the New York Yankees had not shown consistency even for the three consecutive days. The Yankees fans were concerned but they were unaware of the internal momentum of the bullpen.
Continued in Part 7
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