The New York Yankees had a rough day at spring training thanks to injuries and the Boston Red Sox. It was also Aaron Boone’s birthday.
Happy birthday to Aaron Boone. For your present, enjoy a blowout defeat at the hands of the Boston Red Sox and a litany of injuries heading into the regular season.
The Carlos Rodon, Harrison Bader, Tommy Kahnle and Lou Trivino injuries were all announced on Thursday. Rodon will miss the start of the regular season, and Bader is trending that way. Both were penciled in as key starters for a Yankees team that needed pitching and outfield depth heading into the offseason. Kahnle has a spot in New York’s bullpen when he’s healthy, as well.
Boston Red Sox ruin Aaron Boone’s birthday
While the final score of 11-7 isn’t all that bad, Boston led this game by a 9-2 scoreline. They demolished starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt, who is likely the begin the year in the starting rotation alongside Domingo German in either the fourth or fifth spot thanks to Carlos Rodon’s injury.
Schmidt through three innings, but gave up four hits and two earned runs.
The Yanks and Brian Cashman were surprised by the ailment to Rodon, who had been on pitch limits during spring training for a reason,
“The finding was something, but not significant or serious,” Cashman said Thursday. “Obviously, trying to pitch through stuff is not a good thing, especially this time of year. If this was in-season — pennant race, late in the game — he’s still probably up and running. He had this last May with the Giants, and he didn’t miss any time with it.”
It’s important to note that Rodon has pitched through this injury previously. He said that had this been the postseason, he would be doing the same thing.
“When I was dealing with him, he’s like, ‘I dealt with this in May, and it didn’t stop me.’ But it’s not May, it’s March, and we don’t want to play this into something different,” Rodon said.
We’ll take his word for it. But this has been a pretty ruthless birthday for Boone.