Yankees pitchers dominated the Astros lineup until the ninth inning, where New York allowed five runs, including a walk-off, three-run home run in their 5-2 loss to Houston on Saturday night.
Here are the takeaways…
-With the concerns over Gerrit Cole‘s elbow, and the injuries the Yankees have already suffered this spring, Allan Winans is an interesting prospect who can potentially take a spot in the starting rotation.
The 29-year-old was claimed off waivers this offseason from the Atlanta Braves and has already started in the majors. He’s also had a solid spring with the Yankees, and that continued Saturday against the Houston Astros when he pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk on 46 pitches (27 strikes).
–Yerry De Los Santos followed Winans by pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball as well. The right-hander, who is fighting for a spot in the bullpen, struck out two batters while allowing two hits and one walk.
The combination of Indigo Diaz (0.1 IP) and Erick Leal (3.0 IP) no-hit the Astros until Edgar Barclay got into trouble in the ninth. After allowing a one-out single, Brice Matthews tripled to get the Astros on the board. Cristian Gonzalez followed with a single to tie the game at 2-2. After allowing another single, Barclay got a strikeout but gave up a three-run shot to Cesar Salar to give the Astros the win.
-As for the offense, the Yankees did not get much. They collected six hits total, four coming from two players. J.C. Escarra, the catcher fighting to be the backup to Austin Wells this season, went 2-for-3 with a run scored as the team’s starting DH. Pablo Reyes, who started in right field before shifting to third base, went 2-for-2 and accounted for the team’s only RBI, a single in the second inning to score Escarra.
Jasson Dominguez, starting in left field, picked up one hit and finished 1-for-3 with a strikeout. Alexander Vargas and Friday’s hero, Cole Gabrielson, both doubled in the later innings. Duke Ellis’ ground-rule double pushed Gabrielson across in the ninth to increase the Yankees’ lead to 2-0.
-All the other projected Opening Day starters went hitless. Jazz Chisholm Jr went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, Anthony Volpe finished 0-for-3, and Oswaldo Cabrera went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
-Ben Rice, Saturday’s starting catcher, went hitless in three at-bats, while Oswald Peraza, who pinch-hit in the later innings, walked in two at-bats. Both are trying to play their way onto the roster as bench players out of camp.
-Yankees prospects Spencer Jones (0-for-3) and George Lombard Jr. (0-for-2) went hitless in this one. Jones struck out twice and has gone hitless in back-to-back games.
What’s next
The Yankees stay on the road to take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
Carlos Carrasco will take the mound for the Yankees, and he’ll be opposed by Andre Pallante.
