A decent outing by Hess in his second start
David Hess made his second start of the spring this evening against the New York Yankees. His first start came on February 24 when the Toronto Blue Jays came to Sarasota. In that game, he pitched two innings, allowed just one earned run on three hits, including one home run to Dalton Pompey.
His last outing on Monday against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers was a scoreless effort where he tossed three innings. Facing nine batters, Hess didn’t allow a hit, a run or a walk and struck out three.
Coming into this evening’s matchup, Hess had given up just six hits in seven innings. However, as he began the game with a 92mph fastball, Yankees second baseman Tyler Wade took the first pitch onto the left field warning track and into the stands for a ground-rule double.
His first inning of the evening saw him throw 20 pitches, with 13 strikes and ending the inning down a run. Shortstop Gleyber Torres skied one into center field for the first out, however, Wade tagged from second base, advancing just under the tag from third baseman, Renato Núñez. Catcher Gary Sánchez then took a 93mph fastball to the base of the warning track in center field, allowing Wade to trot home from third.
Hess hovered around 92-93mph in the first inning, touching 94 once. He touched 94 again in the second inning, retiring the Yankees one, two, three.
After striking out left fielder Clint Frazier, Hess got designated hitter Mike Ford to fly out to Anthony Santander in right field and third baseman Gio Urshela popped one in front of home plate that first baseman Jace Peterson handled.
Entering the third inning with 36 pitches under his belt, Hess continued to settle in, again retiring the Yankees one, two, three. Right fielder Trey Amburgey grounded a number in front of the plate that catcher Carlos Perez was able to handle. Billy Burns, playing center field for the Yankees, grounded out to Hanser Alberto at second and Hess was able to pickup his third strikeout of the day, a check swing by Wade.
Hess’ pitch count sat at 51, with 37 strikes after three innings, but returned to the mound for the fourth. Only Gabriel Ynoa has pitched four innings in Grapefruit League action this spring. Facing Torres to leadoff, he allowed a leadoff double, and two batters later, Bird singled into right field, scoring him from second. His day was done with one batter retired in the third and after 63 pitches, 44 strikes.
