Astros Blank Yankees, 1-0
TAMPA, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Yankees relievers Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances each pitched an inning in their spring debuts Monday, but the Yankees fell to the Houston Astros 1-0.
Miller, who will start the regular season as the closer with Aroldis Chapman serving a 30-game suspension under baseball's new domestic violence policy, struck out Alex Bregman with two on to end the sixth.
Betances allowed the lone run in the seventh on Max Stassi's double to left-center that should have been caught. Stassi then scored on Andrew Aplin's double.
The Yankees were an AL-best 73-2 when ahead after seven innings and 81-0 with a lead entering the ninth last year with Betances and Miller at the back of the bullpen.
Mike Fiers gave up two hits and walked one over two innings in his first spring start for the Astros. He worked out of jams in both innings against a lineup that featured six starters, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez.
Brian McCann (2-for-3) led the Yankees at the plate.
Michael Pineda started for New York, pitching two scoreless innings.
The game was a rematch of last year's AL wild-card matchup, which Houston won, 3-0.
The Yankees will next face the Marlins at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
