TAMPA — Clint Frazier’s bid for a Yankees’ big league roster spot continued to strengthen Saturday when he went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI against the Red Sox in Fort Myers in a 5-2 victory.
Frazier, who also belted a home run on Thursday, started in right field and drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.
Miguel Andujar’s training in left field continued Saturday with tutorials from Reggie Willits, the first base coach who works with the outfielders, and Yankees great Bernie Williams.
Andujar started in left field for the second straight game and didn’t have any issues.
Veteran pitchers rarely work on the road, but Gerrit Cole plans on pitching against the Tigers on Thursday in Lakeland since that is his fifth day after pitching against them on Saturday.
The six relievers who followed Gerrit Cole against the Tigers were all pitchers who figure big-time into the Yankees’ plans this season. Luis Cessa, Adam Ottavino, Zack Britton, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder combined to allow just one earned run in 6 ¹/₃ innings.
Everyone who watches shortstop Kyle Holder field ground balls gushes about how smooth his hands are and how slick he plays short. Well, Saturday he booted his first ground ball which led to an unearned Tigers run.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ first-round pick out of Delbarton High School in Morris County, N.J., last year, is listed on the traveling squad for Sunday’s game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.
The Yankees travel to Lakeland for the second leg of a back-to-back against the Tigers. David Hale, a candidate for a roster spot, starts for the visitors.