Palms Blank Bombers Behind Johnston's Gem

 By Vin Castillo | Miami Sun Sentinel

MIAMI — The Palms have found their rhythm in the South Florida heat.

Blake Johnston tossed seven shutout innings, Jaspero Gonzalez launched his second home run of the season, and the Miami Palms coasted to a 6–0 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Palms Park, ensuring a victory in the three-game set and improving to 2–3 on the young season.

“We just needed to get back to our own beds and play in front of our fans,” said manager Scott Hatteberg. “You could feel the difference right away.”

That difference was clear on the mound. Johnston (1–0) kept New York guessing, scattering five hits across seven innings while walking just one and striking out five. Mike Morin followed with two perfect frames to seal Miami’s first shutout of 2020.

Offensively, the Palms broke things open with a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by a lead off homer from Pat Grant, followed by all 8 of his teammates coming to the plate. Brett Gardner got his second RBI with a double in the 6th, and Gonzalez capped things off with a blast to right in the eighth.

“It’s always great to get one over on the Yankees,” said Gonzalez, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. “But more than that, I think we’re clicking as a team.”

Eight of nine Miami hitters reached base, and the Palms showed improved patience at the plate, drawing four walks and forcing New York starter Jordan Montgomery out after five innings.

UP NEXT:
The Final match of the series is set for Wednesday afternoon. Jarod Lantz (0–1, 12.00 ERA) will take the hill for Miami against Gerrit Cole, who dazzled in his season debut.

Miami Palms 6, New York Yankees 0

Monday, March 31, 2020

Coca-Cola Palms Park, Miami, FL


New York Yankees (0-2)                                   Miami Palms (2-3)

Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave

Hicks cf        3  0  1  0  1  0  1  0  0  2   .375      Gardner cf      4  0  2  2  1  1  3  0  0  0   .524

Tauchman rf     4  0  0  0  0  2  3  0  0  0   .111      Markakis lf     4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  2   .176

Torres ss       4  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  0  1   .111      Grant 1b        5  1  2  1  0  0  5  1  0  2   .176

Stanton lf      4  0  1  0  0  3  2  0  0  0   .375      Korb 3b         4  0  0  0  0  1  2  2  0  0   .235

Sanchez c       4  0  0  0  0  0  7  2  0  2   .111      Encarnacion dh  3  1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  2   .158

Voit 1b         4  0  1  0  0  0  8  1  0  0   .222      Sohn rf         4  1  1  1  0  2  2  0  0  1   .350

Andujar dh      3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   .500      Wieters c       3  1  1  0  1  1  11 0  0  0   .316

LeMahieu 2b     3  0  0  0  0  2  0  2  0  1   .625      Munoz ss        4  0  0  0  0  1  2  0  0  2   .250

Urshela 3b      3  0  1  0  0  0  1  1  0  0   .167      Gonzalez 2b     3  2  2  2  1  1  1  1  0  0   .467


Totals          32 0  5  0  1  8  24 9  0  6             Totals          34 6 10 6  4  7 27 4  0  9


                1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9      R  H  E

New York        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0      0  5  0

Miami           0  0  0  4  0  1  0  1  x      6 10 0


LOB—NYY 6, MIA 9; 2B—Hicks (1), Gardner (3), Grant (1); 3B—Encarnacion (1);  

HR—Gonzalez (2), Grant (1); RBI—Gonzalez 2 (5), Gardner 2 (4), Sohn (3), Grant (1);  

HBP—Markakis (by Montgomery); RLSP—Hicks, Torres, Sanchez, Encarnacion, Sohn, Munoz, Markakis, Grant.  


New York Yankees            IP   H  R  ER BB SO    ERA

Montgomery (L, 0-1)         5.0  7  4  4  1  3     7.20  

Britton                     1.0  2  1  1  1  1     4.50  

Green                       1.0  0  0  0  2  2     0.00  

Ottavino                    1.0  1  1  1  0  1     9.00  


Miami Palms                IP   H  R  ER BB SO    ERA

Johnston (W, 1-0)          7.0  5  0  0  1  5     0.00  

Morin                       2.0  0  0  0  0  3     3.18  


Pitches-strikes—Montgomery 69-43, Britton 15-9, Green 26-10, Ottavino 12-8, Johnston 90-56, Morin 24-17;  

Batters faced—Montgomery 24, Britton 6, Green 5, Ottavino 4, Johnston 27, Morin 6  


Temp—83°F, Sky—Mostly Cloudy, Wind—W 12mph  


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