Aroldis Chapman Wild In Spring Debut With Yankees
TAMPA, Fla. (CBSNewYork) -- New Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman struggled with his aim as he made his spring training debut Thursday.
Chapman hit Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista with a pitch in the fifth inning, when the left-hander gave up a run, hit two batters and walked two others during two-thirds of an inning. Chapman reached 99 mph and was consistently around 96 and 97 — 17 of his 26 pitches were balls.
The Blue Jays beat the Yankees' split squad 11-4. In the Bronx Bombers' other game Thursday, they tied the Baltimore Orioles, 4-4.
"Just because I didn't have my control today doesn't mean I have to worry about it," Chapman said through a translator. "This is spring training."
Acquired from Cincinnati in December, Chapman will begin serving a 30-game suspension at the start of the season, a penalty he agreed to under baseball's new domestic violence policy.
Bautista, who was also making his spring debut Thursday, was a designated hitter for five innings. He earlier popped out and struck out.
Toronto delayed Bautista's first game in an effort to help him stay stronger throughout the season.
Andrew Miller, who will retain the closer role during Chapman's absence, gave up four hits, including a two-run single to Josh Donaldson in the third.
Nathan Eovaldi started on the mound for New York, pitching two hitless, scoreless innings.
YANKEES 4, ORIOLES 4
In Sarasota, Florida, Starlin Castro had three hits and three RBIs for the Yankees: an RBI double that scored Jacoby Ellsbury and a two-run single.
Adam Jones hit an opposite-field home run to right-center for the Baltimore Orioles, whose winless streak in spring training reached 11.
Baltimore fell to 0-9-2 and is the only big league team without a spring training win this year.
Bryan Mitchell allowed four hits, including Jones' home run, in three innings.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
