10-0 Yankee Win Features Stephen Drew, Michael Pineda; Royals' Ventura Throws 7 Innings of No-Hit Ball

Players of the Day for Friday, March 27, 2015

Grapefruit League

Drew: 3-3, 2RBI

The Yankees swamped the Phillies, 10-0, Friday, in exhibition baseball, but, even though the score was one-sided and out-of-hand, it could have been worse.

Pineda: CG W

The game was called on account of rain in the top sixth inning. The Yankees had scored seven in the fifth, plated three in the sixth, and were threatening to score more.

Stephen Drew, the former Diamondback and Red Sox player that many hoped would be the second coming of Derek Jeter (or maybe Willie Randolph) had a productive afternoon, going 3-for-3 with two singles and a double, driving in a pair of runs.

Yankee starter, Michael Pineda, scattered five hits over five innings without walking any hitters, striking out five. His effort was awarded with the win and the rare Spring training complete game, since Pineda completed all five innings against Phillies' batters.

Cactus League

Ventura: 7 Strong

Since their blistering, 10-1 start to the Cactus League season, the Kansas City Royals have tailed off a bit, but, with about a week left to the exhibition schedule, they're looking to finish strong after downing the Mariners, 5-1, Friday, for their second victory in a row.

Key to the win was the exemplary work of right-hander, Yordano Ventura, who, in his fourth start of Spring, got his first win, tossing seven innings of no-hit ball in the Royals' victory.

Ventura walked two and struck out four, after struggling in his previous starts. The excursion was a good sign that Ventura will be back on track for the regular season, after going 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 2014. Last season, Ventura was a workhorse, starting 30 games and lasting 183 innings.

The win kept the Royals firmly in the hunt in the Cactus League standings, tied with the Dodgers for second place, 1/2 game behind the Oakland A's.

* * * *