PHOENIX (AP) — Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola worked two perfect innings against the New York Yankees in his first spring training start since signing a $172 million, seven-year offseason deal to remain with the Phillies.
Nola struck out three during a 33-pitch outing.
The Phillies beat the Yankees 4-0.
“It’s spring training, but obviously you want to really look at it as in really trying to prepare as best as possible for the season,” Nola said. “I have a better beat on that now as I’ve gone through all the spring trainings.”
The 30-year-old is entering his 10th big league season and could become the longest-tenured pitcher in team history, surpassing Steve Carlton’s 15 years.
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Nola struggled at times during last year’s regular season, finishing 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA. But the righty excelled in the playoffs with a 2.35 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 23 innings. He’s also durable: His 1,065 1/3 innings since 2018 are second-most behind Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
Manager Rob Thomson said on Sunday Phillies stars J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper, who is expected to play first base again this season, are scheduled to make their spring training debuts Wednesday during a home game against the Atlanta Braves.
Marcus Stroman threw 2 1/3 innings in his first spring training start with the New York Yankees on Sunday, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two.
The 32-year-old right-hander — who grew up on Long Island about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium — signed a $37 million, two-year deal during the offseason. He said it was “exciting getting the first one under the belt” after throwing 31 of 52 pitches for strikes in a split-squad game against the Phillies.
“I felt good in spurts today, just wasn’t overall over the 50 pitches,” Stroman said. “I just need to increase my consistency and feeling good in my mechanics more often. I just feel like it was probably maybe around 25 to 30 pitches today out of the 50.”
Stroman went ahead 0-2 in the count on five of his first six batters, but had the count reach 3-2 on four of them.
“As far as throwing strikes and being able to come in the zone with a few of my pitches, I feel like I’m ahead of schedule in that sense,” Stroman said. “But definitely not synched up and where I need to be mechanically heading in a season. But, over the next, you know, two, three, four outings, I see that all coming together.”
Stroman missed six weeks last season because of inflammation in his right hip and then a rib cartilage fracture, and finished with a 3.95 ERA that was his highest since 2018.
Also on Sunday in New York’s other split-squad game, slugger Juan Soto connected for his first spring homer in pinstripes, going deep in the fourth inning off Toronto right-hander Trevor Richards.
“You want to be out there, you want to get that feeling of the Yankees fans,” Soto said. “You always heard about them (and then) you get to a point where you be like, I want to feel that. I want to see how it’s going to feel to have them … cheering for me instead of booing me. It’s been pretty good.”
