Wieters, Sohn Spark Palms in Series-Opening Win Over Yankees
MIAMI — It wasn’t always smooth, but it was enough. The Miami Palms held off a late Yankees charge and came away with a 4–3 victory Friday night at Coca-Cola Palms Park, climbing back to .500 with their third straight win.
Matt Wieters supplied the biggest swing of the night, a two-run homer in the sixth inning that gave Miami some breathing room after a tense, back-and-forth middle frame. The blast, Wieters’ team-leading sixth of the season, was launched to right-center and followed an RBI fielders choice by Jaspero Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly from Edwin Encarnacion.
“That was a big moment,” said manager Scott Hatteberg. “We were pushing for a crooked number and Matty gave us that jolt.”
The Palms got a stellar outing from right-hander Blake Johnston, who scattered four hits and two walks over seven strong innings while striking out six. Johnston improved to 3–1 and lowered his ERA to 1.38.
“Just tried to stay in the zone and let the defense work,” Johnston said. “Felt like I was ahead in counts most of the night.”
Frank Sohn continued his recent surge with three hits, including a triple in the sixth inning that set the table for Wieters' homerun. Nick Markakis also chipped in two hits and a run scored.
The Yankees nearly rallied late, getting a two-run double from Aaron Hicks in the ninth to bring them within a run. But Chris Martin recovered to induce a DJ LeMahieu popout and seal the save — his fifth of the year — stranding the tying run on base.
“We got a little tight there at the end,” admitted bench coach Forrest Davis. “But this group’s learning how to finish games, and that matters.”
Game Notes:
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Sohn is now 4-for-8 over his last two games, raising his average to .274.
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Wieters’ 11 RBI are second on the team behind Gonzalez (12).
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The Palms have now won three straight for the first time this season.
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Jarod Lantz remains on the IL and is not expected back until early June.
Next Up:
Miami continues their series with the Yankees on Saturday. Brian Kragh is expected to take the hill for the Palms. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Miami Palms 4, New York Yankees 3
Friday, April 17, 2020
New York Yankees (1-3) Miami Palms (10-10)
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 1 2 2 2 1 3 0 0 0 .500 Gardner cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 .306
LeMahieu 2b 5 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 .529 Grant 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 .260
Torres ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 .055 Gonzalez 2b 4 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 .314
Stanton lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 1 .313 Korb 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .296
Sanchez c 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 .077 Encarnacion dh 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 .213
Ford dh 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .444 Sohn rf 4 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 .274
Voit 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 .235 Wieters c 4 1 1 2 0 0 9 0 0 3 .333
Andujar 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 .353 Munoz ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 .286
Frazier rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 .000 Markakis lf 3 1 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 .274
-- - - -- -- -- -- -- -- --- -- - - -- -- -- -- -- -- ---
Totals 36 3 9 3 2 8 24 5 0 8 Totals 31 4 8 4 1 3 27 3 0 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
New York Yankees 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 9 0
Miami Palms 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 4 8 0
LOB- New York Yankees 8, Miami Palms 6; 2B- Hicks 2(3), Voit(1), LeMahieu(1), Ford(2);
3B- Sohn(1); HR- Wieters(6); RBI- Hicks 2(5), LeMahieu(4), Encarnacion(9), Gonzalez(12),
Wieters 2(11); SF- Encarnacion(1); RLSP- Sanchez 2, Andujar, LeMahieu, Frazier,
Wieters, Korb;
New York Yankees IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Montgomery(L 0-2) 6.0 7 4 4 1 1 6.55
Otero 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 2.25
Miami Palms IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Johnston(W 3-1) 7.0 4 1 1 2 6 1.38
Allen(H,2) 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 6.48
Martin(S,5) 1.0 3 2 2 0 1 3.00
Pitches-strikes- Montgomery 65-45, Otero 23-19, Johnston 95-60, Allen 15-12, Martin 24-12;
Batters faced- Montgomery 27, Otero 7, Johnston 27, Allen 5, Martin 6;
HBP- Gardner(by Montgomery);
Temp - 83, Sky - Cloudy, Wind - SE 8mph
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