Yankees 5, Red Sox 2: Yankees Get Over Slow Start to Beat Red Sox

Through five innings the Yankees had just one hit. Brett Gardner lead off the game with an infield single, after Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew mishandled the grounder. That was immediately canceled out when Eduardo Nunez grounded into a double play in the next at bat. It took until the sixth inning for the Yankees to get another runner on base, but thanks to some hits, and some sloppy defense by the Red Sox, the Yankees came out Fort Myers with a win.

Adam Warren started for the Yankees, going three innings allowing just one hit. However, that hit was a home run. Mike Napoli took Warren over the center field wall with a leadoff homer in the second inning. But other than that, and a Will Middlebrooks walk, also in the second, Warren pitched three relatively easy innings, striking out two.

With regulars like Cano and Teixiera leaving for the World Baseball Classic, the Yankees sent out a second rate lineup, which Ryan Dempster and the Red Sox bullpen kept at bay for a large portion of the day. Gardner lead off the game with the aforementioned infield single, and was also a part of the sixth inning rally.

Proven Closer Joel Hanrahan came in to pitch for the sixth for the Red Sox. With one out in the inning, Corban Joseph singled. Bobby Wilson got on base thanks to an error by Red Sox third baseman Drew Sutton, an error which advanced Joseph to second. Hanrahan threw a wild pitch, which allowed Joseph and Austin Romine (running for Wilson) to both move up a base. Gardner drew a walk, loading the bases for Eduardo Nunez. Nunez singled to score Joseph to tie the game, but because of some sloppy baserunning, that was almost all they got. On the Nunez single, Romine had to be held up a third, which lead to Ronnier Mustelier (running for Gardner), who wasn't far behind Romine, to have to go back to second. Mustelier just made it back, leaving the bases still loaded. Jayson Nix then grounded into a force out at second, but this scored Romine from third, to give the Yankees the lead. Juan Rivera then caused Sutton to make another error at third, scoring Mustelier, making it 3-1.

The Yankees added some insurance runs late in the game. In the eighth, Jose Pirela doubled, and was immediately doubled home by JR Muprhy. In the ninth, Thomas Neal lead off with a home run, making it 5-1.

As far as the "regulars" go, Gardner continued his hot spring going 1-2 with a walk. Eduardo Nunez went 1-3, but the 1 being the aforementioned single, to tie the game. Jayson Nix went 0-3, with one of those being the fielders choice to give the Yankees the lead.

In "people competing for jobs" news, Dan Johnson went 0-3, and Rivera went 0-3 but again, hit something that lead to a run, though). Melky Mesa went 0-3 with two strikeouts and Zoilo Almonte went 0-2.

And then there was the prospects. Tyler Austin got time again today, going 1-2 with a well-hit double in the ninth inning. Austin Romine was 0-2, but scored the go ahead run while pinch running. Romine had a little bit of trouble behind the plate, in the ninth inning, allowing a couple wild pitches, one of which scored allowed a run. Corban Joseph started the game at third base going 1-2. Addison Maruszak went 0-2.

As mentioned Adam Warren looked solid. Jose Ramirez pitched three innings, allowing three hits, striking out one. Chase Whitley, Preston Claibourne, Josh Spence and Kelvin Perez finished the game for the Yankees, with Perez throwing the wild pitch to allow the second Red Sox run.

Despite it just being spring training, it's always nice to beat the Red Sox. The Yankees have the day off tomorrow before taking on the Braves, Tuesday night at 7:05 eastern.

Boxscore.