Yankees Start Spring Schedule With A Couple Blasts, But Fall Short Vs. Jays

Mike Tauchman connects on a solo home run. Provided by New York Yankees.

The Yankees opened the spring training schedule on Sunday afternoon with a bang, as they got a couple of dingers from unlikely sources, but lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

The Yankees' pop was provided by catcher Rob Brantly and Mike Tauchman, who hit back-to-back-homers in the fifth inning. Brantly, who has six years of Major League experience with four teams including the Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants,  hit a two-run shot, and Tauchman, entering his third year in New York, followed with a solo home run.

Michael Brantly follows the path of his home run. Provided by New York Yankees.

That pulled the Yankees to within 5-4 at the time, but Toronto put it away in the seventh and final inning (was announced heading in it would be a 7-inning game) when Logan Warmoth hit a solo home run off Nick Goody.

One of the Yankees' top pitching prospects, Michael King, got the start, and he battled through two innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on three hits and two walks, with a strikeout. King made nine appearances (four starts) last season, going 1-2 with a 7.76 ERA, allowing 23 runs (all earned) and 30 hits in 26.2 innings, with 26 strikeouts and 11 walks.

Michael King. Provided by New York Yankees.