With rain in the forecast for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's games on Thursday, the Yankees decided to send Jordan Montgomery and Chad Green, both competing for the No. 5 spot in the team's big league rotation, to Class A Advanced Tampa at the last minute, scheduling both pitchers to throw on Thursday night.
Though Tampa would lose its season opener, 2-1, the Yankees' duo, led by the starter Montgomery, fared very well, combining to allow two runs (one earned) on five hits with 14 strikeouts against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
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Montgomery, No. 13 on the Yankees' Top 30 Prospects list, worked the first five innings, yielding an unearned run on three hits. He issued one walk and fanned nine while throwing 39 of his 48 pitches for strikes. Green (No. 22) took over in the sixth and proceeded to toss four strong frames of his own, surrendering one earned run on two hits while punching out five.
The performances were a continuation of what was a strong Spring Training for both hurlers. Montgomery posted a 3.20 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings across six appearances (two starts) -- including four perfect innings to close out a combined no-hitter on March 17 -- while Green finished the spring with a 1.50 ERA in five appearances (two starts).

The Yankees set Montgomery and Green on the same starting schedule coming out of camp with the intention of using one of the two pitchers on April 16th -- the first game in which the club will need a No. 5 starter.