Sanchez's blast sparks Yanks in 9-run frame

Sanchez's blast sparks Yanks in 9-run frame

March 30th, 2017

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- belted a three-run homer to cap a nine-run first inning as the Yankees rolled to a 14-1 win over the Phillies on Thursday at Spectrum Field.
Four of those runs came on back-to-back two-RBI singles from and off of Phillies starter . After Eickhoff was pulled, Sanchez launched his homer to left off reliever Matt Hockenberry.
"I think he's had a really good spring," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Sanchez. "Overall, we've had a really good spring, when you look at the way we've swung the bats. He's just kind of picked up where he left off last year."

The homer was Sanchez's fifth of the spring, second most on the team to Greg Bird's seven. Torreyes added a two-run homer in the following inning as well.

"The were just very fastball geared up today and I think they spit on the curveball a little bit," Eickhoff said of the Yankees' approach at the plate.

Yankees starter , who has won a spot in the rotation, allowed a run in the first on a walk and three singles, but he settled down and allowed just two baserunners (one on a misplayed popup in left-center) in his final four innings.

"After the first inning, I thought he was pretty good," Girardi said. "You want all those runs, but to sit as long as he did, it's kind of hard. I thought his location was pretty good, he threw some good changeups again, moved his fastball in and out. It's a step in the right direction."

drove in the Phillies' run with a single in the first
Up next for Yankees: Watch free on MLB.TV as the Yankees will help break the seal on the Braves' new SunTrust Park on Friday, sending (3-0, 3.86 ERA) to the mound for the exhibition contest at 7:35 p.m. ET. Atlanta's (0-1, 9.20) will face what Girardi said will be a "representative" Yankees lineup as they prepare for Sunday's season opener.
Up next for Phillies: Watch free live on MLB.TV as the Phillies wrap up their Spring Training at Spectrum Field on Friday when they host the Rays at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander (1-2, 5.94 ERA) will get the start. It will be the first and only game this spring that the Phillies will play with their finalized 25-man roster.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.