Yanks Defeat Tigers on Opening Day

The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day Thursday afternoon March 31, 2011. It was a frigid cold day out at the stadium. The two top pitchers pitched well but not great each giving up three runs in six innings. Sabathia only gave up two earned runs. The Yankees showed off their strengths in their bullpen and homerun power. Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano and Mariano Rivera pitched three perfect innings with a strikeout each. They didn't need many pitches to do it either. 39 pitches total from the trio, the three headed bullpen monster we can call JOSOMO. The Yankees got homeruns from Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira. The star of the game was Granderson as he was dazzling out in center field as well as hitting the game winning homerun. Russell Martin had a nice debut with a couple of hits, calling a good game, a stolen base and a couple of runs scored. Alex Rodriguez continued what he has done in the spring, he had a double and a couple of walks to be on base three out of four at bats. Derek Jeter didn't get a hit but he did have a sacrifice fly. Brett Gardner tried to bunt twice for hits and was out but just barely in both instances. The two teams will take off Friday and then resume the three game series on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. A.J. Burnett will face Brad Penny on Saturday afternoon and Phil Hughes will face Max Scherzer on Sunday afternoon. The Saturday game is at 4:05 on Fox and Sunday at 1:05PM on the YES network. It is Opening Day and not even the cold could damper the spirits of the fans and players. Baseball is back and that is something that brings warmth to us all. I was out at the ballpark today and it was as cold as it has ever been but a win makes it all worth while and it was just great to be back in the ballpark. I feel it is a home away from home and it is a place that I love spending time in, there is nothing like going to a ballgame. The Yankees hope that it is the first of many victories this season on their way to a 28th Championship but for now they will savor the first one, enjoy it for a day and get back to work on Saturday.