Mother Nature Wins (Yanks 7-1)

The Philadelphia Phillies and a New York Yankees split squad did battle in a spring training game Tuesday at Bright House Field in Clearwater, but Mother Nature ultimately came out the winner in this contest. Rain delayed the start of the game 40 minutes, and play was interrupted after four innings due to bad weather. When conditions did not improve, the game was ultimately cancelled, and it will not be made up.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka allowed only one earned run in four innings Tuesday despite giving up seven hits and walking a batter (photo Buck Davidson)

The Yankees jumped on Philadelphia starting pitcher Brett Oberholtzer for four runs and four hits in the top of the first inning, with Dustin Ackley’s three-run homer the big blow of the inning. The Phils chipped away at the Yankees advantage by plating a run in the bottom of the frame, courtesy of Darin Ruf’s two-out RBI single. Philadelphia made a bid for another tally in the bottom of the third, but Will Venable was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw by Yanks’ right fielder Cesar Puello. Puello stayed on a roll by smacking an RBI single in the top of the fourth, and he scored when Miguel Andujar belted a two-run homer that stretched the Yankees advantage to 7-1.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Brett Oberholtzer endured a rough outing Tuesday against the New York Yankees. (photo Buck Davidson)

The Phillies wrap up their 2016 Grapefruit League season when they host the Houston Astros Wednesday at Bright House Field in Clearwater.