Yankees 4, Nationals 2: Classic Pettitte

The Yankees ruined the Nationals exhibition game today by coming out on top during their visit to Washington DC. The offense scraped by, the pitching was sharp and New York came away with a victory. The team looks as ready as they can ever be before the start of the regular season.

In the top of the fourth inning Kevin Youkilis led off the inning with a home run to left centerfield to take a one to nothing lead. After a Travis Hafner single and a Vernon Wells double, Eduardo Nunez got a big hit to score two. Chris Stewart followed up with a single to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead and that was the Yankee offense for the day.

The Nationals scored only two runs today, both by Ryan Zimmerman. In the bottom of the fourth he reached on a Kevin Youkilis throwing error and advanced to second. He then scored on an Ian Desmond single. In the bottom of the sixth Zimmerman doubled and was driven in by an Adam LaRoche single.

Andy Pettitte was strong through six innings pitched, giving up one earned run, on five hits while striking out six. Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson, and Mariano Rivera each pitched one inning and struck out a batter a piece.

On the offensive side, Robinson Cano, Vernon Wells and Eduardo Nunez each had two hits. Melky Mesa, Kevin Youkilis, Travis Hafner, and Chris Stewart all had a hit each. Brett Gardner and Eduardo Nunez each stole a base and Gardner and Youkilis had the only Yankee walks of the game. Jose Pirela, Jayson Nix, Travis Hafner (2), Ben Francisco, Lyle Overbay (2), Gil Velazquez, and Chris Stewart all struck out at least once.