Yankees no-hit Tigers
Not regular season yet, but pitchers will take it
No runs once again off Masahiro Tanaka. No hits off him or the New York Yankees’ bullpen, either.
Tanaka and two relievers combined on a spring training no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in a 3-0 win Friday in Lakeland, Florida.
New York manager Joe Girardi didn’t keep the lineup card as a souvenir, but still appreciated the effort.
“I’m happy for our guys,” Girardi said. “It’s fun. Obviously, it means more if it’s the regular season, but still it’s a no-hitter.”
Tanaka, scheduled to start on opening day, struck out six and walked two in 4 1-3 innings. The Japanese ace has thrown 13 1/3 scoreless innings in exhibition play.
“I felt that I wasn’t at my best, but considering that I still was able to put up some zeroes, so that part satisfied me,” Tanaka said through a translator. “The slider and the cut fastball, the location of it, I felt like I was all over the place. The command of those can be better.”
After Chasen Shreve got the final two outs in the fifth, Jordan Montgomery finished up with four perfect innings. Montgomery has emerged as candidate for a bullpen spot and could get into the mix for open fifth starter spot.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said “there was pride involved” in trying to avoid being no-hit, even in an exhibition game.
“You don’t want to get nohit, whether it’s spring training or regular season, Wiffle ball in the backyard,” Ausmus said. “It was on the radar.”
2 ASTROS (ss) 5, BRAVES 4
Houston starter Dallas Keuchel threw four scoreless innings, scattering three hits. He has yet to give up an earned run this spring. Derek Fisher doubled and drove in three runs.
ORIOLES 8, PIRATES 6
Gabriel Ynoa went 2 2/3 innings in the start for Baltimore, allowing two earned runs and five hits. Trey Mancini hit his second home run of the spring and Alex Castellanos tripled.
ASTROS (ss) 6, RED SOX
Houston’s Brad Peacock gave up four hits and a run in a three-inning start. Evan Gattis doubled and singled for the Astros.
TWINS 4, RAYS 2
Phil Hughes, healthy after two injury-plagued seasons, threw five shutout innings, giving up two hits while fanning four. Jorge Polanco and Brian Dozier both homered.
BLUE JAYS 7, PHILLIES 5
Toronto starter Marco Estrada went 3 2/3 innings, giving up a three-run homer to Howie Kendrick. Outfield prospect Darrell Ceciliani homered, tripled and drove in five runs for the Blue Jays.
Aaron Nola went 4 2/3 innings for Philadelphia, allowing four runs on four hits, walking four and striking out four. Aaron Altherr homered.
NATIONALS 5, MARLINS 5, 9 INNINGS
Washington pitching prospect Erick Fedde didn’t make it out of the second inning, giving up five runs on four hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.
METS 16, CARDINALS 2
Mets starter Steven Matz went 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and an earned run while walking three and striking out three. Wilmer Flores homered, doubled and drove in six runs. Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda both doubled.
CUBS 7, WHITE SOX 2
Kyle Schwarber homered off White Sox newcomer Derek Holland, singled and drove in four runs from the Cubs’ leadoff spot. Kris Bryant drove in two runs, Anthony Rizzo doubled.
DIAMONDBACKS (ss) 3, A’S 2
Arizona starter Archie Bradley worked five innings, allowing one run on five hits. Brandon Drury tripled, doubled and singled for his third consecutive multihit game.
ROYALS 8, BREWERS 5
Nathan Karns, acquired from the Mariners in a trade for Jarrod Dyson, pitched four innings and gave up three runs on seven hits.