Manny Machado continues to dazzle in exhibition game

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sport

The Baltimore Orioles played the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida for a spring training game. The Orioles defeated the Yankees 3-1. Rey Navarro hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to extend Baltimore’s lead. Wei-Yin Chen got the start and pitched three scoreless innings while Kevin Gausman pitched two scoreless innings of his own and picked up the win.

However, the real most valuable player of the game was at the hot corner for the Orioles and his name is Manny Machado. Machado not only had a great day at the plate, but he also made a few plays in the field that had everyone watching saying, “That’s our Manny!”

Machado went 3-3 at the plate. Leading off the game, he drove a single into left field and then willed himself into scoring position by stealing second base.

In the third inning, Machado connected with another pitch and the ball was smoked into left field after deflecting off the third baseman’s glove. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Machado extended the Orioles lead on the Yankees when he hit a dribbler back up through the infield and into center field, scoring Jonathan Schoop from second.

Defensively, Machado was golden. In the top of the third inning with one out, Yankees’ shortstop Didi Gregorius hit a soft ground ball down the third base side. The ball had a lot of spin on it and actually spun from foul territory back into fair territory. Any other third baseman might have seen it in fould territory and give up on the play. However, that’s not how Manny Machado is hardwired.

Machado came sprinting up to the ball and, with a quick transfer and release, got the out at first base. This type of play has became synonymous with Machado’s defensive ability and all of Baltimore expects for him to make Web Gems like this one in the upcoming season.

Next: Baltimore Orioles, Wei-Yin Chen hold New York in check