Spring Training 3/28/12

The Yankees faced off against the Atlanta Braves today down at Champions Field in Lake Buena Vista Florida. Hiroki Kuroda made the start for the Yankees and faced off against Braves right hander Brian Beachy and the game ended up ending in a 5-5 tie.

Freddy Freeman hit his 5th home run in his last eight at bats today off of Hiroki Kuroda to bring the Braves within one run and Jayson Heyward hit a game tying two run home run in the bottom of the ninth off of George Kontos to make up most of the offense for the Braves. The Yankees offensive standout was Eric Chavez who knocked in three runs with a pair of rbi singles off of Brian Beachy and an rbi double later in the game.  Eduardo Nunez also added an rbi double as well for the Yankees offensive game today.

Kuroda allowed two runs on six hits in 7 IP and he looked stellar while doing it. He had allowed now one run or fewer in his last three Spring Training starts before this game. Kuroda looks great and should fill in the Yankees #2 spot in the rotation well, no matter how pessimistic I was about it yesterday.

Up next for the Yankees is DJ Mitchell facing off against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:05 pm ET on Thursday on MLBTV.  Ivan Nova was scheduled to pitch but will instead pitch a minor league game while still competing for one of the remaining rotation spots.