Yankees' Playoff Run Stuns with Scrubbing Hacks
A rainy day in Sarasota sent both teams home early.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: A general view of the rain coming down at Ed Smith Stadium after a rain delay ended a 11-4 Tampa Bay Rays win over the Baltimore Orioles on February 26, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images Given the forecast in Sarasota, it was always going to be a squeeze to get this Yankees/Orioles game in on Sunday night. Indeed, the heavens opened in the third inning and the rain never stopped.
Rather than mill around waiting for a break in the weather that may never have come, both teams decided to call this one after two-plus, with no makeup game scheduled. Tonight's game between the Orioles and Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium has been canceled due to inclement weather. There will be no makeup date.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 15, 2026 The wet conditions played their part from the get-go, Yankees starter Paul Blackburn appearing to have trouble with his grip. He issued a two-out walk to Pete Alonso in the first and then a single to top prospect Samuel Basallo. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance to scoring position, and a Tyler O’Neill single plated the pair to make it 2-0, Baltimore.
* *Those runs will not count toward Blackburn’s spring training ERA due to the game’s cancellation, so lucky for him, I suppose. Zach Eflin set the side down in order in the first and second, striking out a pair in each frame. Spencer Jones may have been optioned to minor-league camp, but it hasn’t affected his performances in spring including a home run in the first game after receiving the news.