Rays get scoreless start from Moore in win

March 12th, 2016

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Starting pitchers Luis Severino (Yankees) and Matt Moore (Rays) showcased midseason form on Saturday, and center fielder Johnny Field broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the fifth to spark Tampa Bay to a 2-1 victory over New York at Charlotte Sports Park.
Making his second start of the spring, Severino boasted a high-90s fastball and solid command, limiting the Rays to four hits (three singles and a Logan Forsythe double) while striking out four and walking none over 3 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 16 batters he faced while finding the strike zone on 43 of 59 pitches overall.
Box score
"He looked good, really good," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That's what you want to see out of him; he threw all his pitches, controlled innings for the most part. Velocity was great. Slider was good today, his changeup, he threw a couple good ones."

Moore was equally impressive, striking out three and walking none over 3 2/3 innings while limiting the Bronx Bombers to a pair of first-inning singles. The 26-year-old lefty displayed superb command, throwing strikes on 32 of his 49 pitches while featuring a fastball that sat consistently in the mid-90s.
Moore recorded first-pitch strikes on nine of 12 batters, and he retired the last nine batters he faced without allowing a ball to leave the infield.
"I just filled up the zone pretty well. And that kind of gets back to the relationship [catcher] Curt Casali and I have, as far as the visual back there and him believing in the pitches he's calling and pumping me up. So it was a good day," said Moore, who enjoyed a strong September last year after struggling for most of the season in his return from Tommy John surgery.

The Yankees scored their run in the seventh when Cesar Puello, who was hit by a Brad Boxberger pitch to lead off the inning, stole second and later scored on a Ronald Torreyes groundout.
Yankees reliever Nick Goody struck out the side in a perfect sixth before yielding to Anthony Swarzak, who struck out a pair in a scoreless seventh.
Rays right fielder Corey Dickerson exited the game after being hit by a James Pazos fastball with two outs in the fifth inning. Dickerson did not require X-rays and was diagnosed with a left forearm bruise.

Up next for the Yankees: With an off-day coming Monday, the Yankees will send two starting pitchers to the hill on Sunday against the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field, with left-hander CC Sabathia and right-hander Michael Pineda pitching back to back (watch the game on MLB.TV). Sabathia will draw the start and is scheduled to throw three innings or 45 pitches. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.
Up next for the Rays: Sunday is a split-squad day for the Rays, with a home game against the Red Sox at 1:05 p.m. ET and a road matchup with the Blue Jays at 1:07 p.m. (watch the games on MLB.TV). Erasmo Ramirez draws the start against Boston, with Danny Farquhar, Boxberger, Enny Romero and Andrew Bellatti also scheduled to see action. Taylor Guerrieri will oppose Toronto.