James Paxton looks sharp, Estevan Florial homers as Yankees down Phillies 6-0

We’ve settled into the hum of spring training. We’re past the initial part, where the exhibition slate is fresh and new, but not quite at the part where the starting pitchers are tossing more than a handful innings and the lineup regulars take their turns throughout the game. Today, the Yankees won one of those relatively nondescript games, downing the Phillies 6-0 in a matchup that featured a relative paucity of big names.

The full box score is here. Let’s take a look at our three main takeaways:

1. James Paxton had another strong outing, this time showcasing an ability to escape a jam. He quickly put two on with none out in the first inning, but retired the next two batters to emerge unscathed. Paxton put it on cruise control from there, finishing with 3.1 scoreless innings pitched and five strikeouts, bringing his spring line to 7.1 innings and just one run allowed.
2. Top prospect Estevan Florial had a big game. He legged out an infield single in his first at-bat, and in his third trip to the dish, he took a fastball that Phillies reliever Victor Arano left over the plate and slammed it out over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer and a 5-0 lead. It was an impressive display of opposite-field power for Florial, who flashed a good chunk of his tantalizing tools today.
3. Here’s your regularly-scheduled first-base battle update: Luke Voit recorded two walks in three plate appearances, while Greg Bird walked and laced a single in four plate appearances. No real movement, but with Brian Cashman yesterday indicating that it’s unlikely both will make the Opening Day roster, the pressure is only increasing on this pair.

Highlight of the Game

Tune in tomorrow night as Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for the Yankees against the Tigers at 6:35 EST.