Spring Training games hardly mean anything since there are so many players in and out who will not make a major league roster and the pitchers are often throwing one particular pitch over and over again just to refine it, but it's nice to see a win from the Phillies. Despite a wet field that led to the Phillies deciding to scratch Chase Utley from the starting lineup, the Phillies defeated the New York Yankees 4-3 as the skies cleared in Clearwater. There were several positive notes from today's game.
Kyle Kendrick started today's game and went two innings, giving up three hits and one earned run. The pitching that followed was also decent. Aaron Cook followed with two scoreless innings, followed by a scoreless fifth inning from Chad Durbin, making his spring debut. Zach Miner gave up two runs in his two innings of work, but earned the win. Roster longshot Cesar Jiminez pitched a scoreless eighth and Jeremy Horst pitched the ninth inning for the save.
Offensively, Kevin Frandsen got the Phillies on the board with an RBI double in the sixth inning. The Phillies saw the continued presence of Domonic Brown who belted a solo home run in the seventh inning. But the Phililes would keep scoring in the seventh. After Cody Asche followed wtih a double, catcher Tommy Joseph homered onto the tiki bar in left field to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead, which would prove to be the deciding runs.
A little bit of nice glovework today from the Phillies as well. Third baseman Cody Asche made a nice diving stop to turn a double play in the fifth inning. You can watch that play here on MLB.com.
The Phillies return to action tomorrow against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers.
