LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Matt Kemp recorded one of the two RBI doubles that Michael Pineda surrendered in the first inning, but Aaron Hicks' triple fueled a six-run sixth inning that propelled the Yankees to an 8-7 win over the Braves on Thursday afternoon at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex.
Non-roster invitee Blaine Boyer's bid to win a spot in Atlanta's bullpen took a hit as he retired just one of the eight batters faced during the decisive sixth inning. Jacoby Ellsbury highlighted the uprising with a two-run single that capped his three-hit performance.
Pineda retired just one of the first four batters he faced, but then proved perfect over the remainder of his three-inning stint, which was blemished by the three hits and two runs surrendered during the first inning.
Playing in his first game since fracturing his right elbow in September, Ozzie Albies opened the bottom of the first inning with a single and then scored from first base on Johan Camargo's double. Kemp's double down the left-field line served as his second straight hit since he opened the Grapefruit League season hitless through his first 14 at-bats.
Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner opened the game with a home run off Aaron Blair, who found a groove after he got Chris Carter to ground into a double play with two on and none out in the first inning. Blair retired seven of the final 10 batters faced as he allowed one run and five hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Matt Tuiasosopo pulled Atlanta closer with a three-run home run in the sixth inning off Chasen Shreve, who was traded by the Braves to the Yankees before the 2015 season. Tuiasosopo added a two-run shot in the ninth inning off Jason Gurka.
Yankees Up Next: The Yankees are on the road Friday to visit the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. Chad Green will make this start in place of Luis Cessa, who was scratched with an illness, for New York, with Clay Buchholz going for Philadelphia. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on MLB Network and MLB.TV.
Braves Up Next:Brandon Phillips is expected to be in the lineup when the Braves host the Mets on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET, a game available on Gameday Audio. Lucas Sims will start in place of R.A. Dickey, who will instead pitch in a simulated game to avoid shying away from his knuckleball while making a second straight start against a division opponent. The Mets will counter with suburban Atlanta native Zack Wheeler, who will be making his debut and extending his attempt to return from Tommy John surgery.
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