Raul Valdes is making a very strong case this spring to be a long-man in the bullpen this season for the Phillies. In his last outing, Valdes tossed three scoreless innings. He did just that again to start this ballgame allowing just three hits and striking out one.
The Phillies put up the first runs on the board in the top of the fourth this afternoon against the Yankees. With two men on, Domonic Brown crushed a three-run homer over the fence in right field. To follow, Jermaine Mitchell tripled, and was sent home on a single from Yuniesky Betancourt.
Mike Adams tossed a scoreless inning of relief striking out one. Chad Durbin followed with two scoreless innings walking one and allowing two hits.
After a scoreless bottom of the eighth for Mike Stutes, the Phillies provided a few more runs to back the stellar pitching. After Betancourt doubled, Steven Lerud brought him home with a two-run homer to right field. With two outs, Freddy Galvis doubled, and Pete Orr sent him home with an RBI triple. 7-0 Phils.
Jake Diekman closed it out for the Phillies this afternoon in Tampa Bay. He allowed one hit and walked two to load the bases, but did not allow a run to score, leading his team to a shutout.
The Phillies will head home to Clearwater to face the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow afternoon at 1:05.
