In the final exhibition game of summer camp, the Yankees tied the Phillies, 2-2, in the Bronx on Monday night. >> Box Score
1. Deivi Garcia got the start in this one, but he left fairly early after just 1.2 innings of work. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out one and walking two.
2. Baseball in 2020 might be weird, but Aaron Judge’s home run off Vince Velasquez in the bottom of the fifth was something else. The Phillies wanted to see a bigger pitch count for the right-hander, so even though he got three outs in the frame, manager Joe Girardi wanted him to face Judge to get that pitch count up before his night was over. That’s when Judge homered to right-center and didn’t know whether or not he should round the bases. The run ended up counting, and Judge once again showcased he is more than good to go for Opening Day with another big fly.
3. Mike Ford came in clutch in the bottom of the ninth, as he tied the game with a solo homer to right field. Ford is going to be used in situations like these, and he showed last season that he can excel in pinch-hit scenarios.
4. David Hale was solid for the Yankees after Garcia came out. He pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless ball with two hits and three walks allowed. Nick Nelson, Zack Britton, Brooks Kriske, and Tony Zych combined to allow zero runs through the rest of the game as well.
5. DJ LeMahieu, who is getting more at-bats since coming to summer camp late due to a positive coronavirus test, went 0-for-3 on the night. Giancarlo Stanton also had an off night, going 0-for-4.
What’s next
Games mean something next time around, as Gerrit Cole will take the ball for his true Yankees debut against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night in our nation’s capital at 7:08 p.m. to kick off the 2020 MLB season.