The New York Yankees traveled nearly three hours from their Spring Training Complex in Tampa, Florida to Fort Myers Sunday, leaving with a 5-2 victory over their biggest rival, the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees lineup contained only one regular everyday player in Brett Gardner, while 25-year-old Adam Warren took the mound to start the game. Warren has only pitched in one regular season game in his MLB career, in which he lasted two innings and gave up six runs.
Sunday was a different story for Warren, as he completed three innings of work while only giving up one run on three hits. Veteran Ryan Dempster got the start for the Red Sox and was nearly perfect. Dempster threw 25 of his 28 pitches for strikes, and only gave up one hit in three scoreless innings. The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning before Yankee utility player’s Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez drove in a run a piece off of closer Joel Hanrahan. Another run scored in the inning of an error from Red Sox third baseman Drew Sutton giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
The Yankees added two insurance runs late in the game to seal the win over Boston. Preseason baseball rarely gets much attention in terms of wins and losses, but anytime these two teams meet you can guarantee they are going to put on a show. Analysts, fans, and even most players have always considered the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry the greatest in baseball, as well as one of the most historic in all of sports.
Long time Red Sox player and newly found Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis didn’t make an appearance in the game, while new Red Sox hopeful Mark Napoli played first base and homered in the second inning.
The Yankees next game is on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves as they continue to look in-house for a replacement for injured outfielder Curtis Granderson. The Yankees have played 11 games in ten days, making tomorrow’s off day a much needed one. The Red Sox take on another AL East foe in the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Spring Training is in full affect across the MLB, and both the Yankees and Red Sox have lots of work to do in preparation for their Opening Day match-up.
