Yankees Avoid Sweep Behind Strong Start From Pettitte

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 4th, 2013

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Red Sox 2 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were able to pick up their first win of the 2013 season, and avoid the sweep, by beating the Red Sox behind a great start from the 40 year old pitcher Andy Pettitte.

Pettitte at the young age of 40 was able to be the stopper for the Yankees on Thursday night, as his great start was a main reason for the Yankees win, and avoiding a sweep to the rival Red Sox. Pettitte went eight innings only allowing one run on eight hits, one walk, and had three strikeouts. Pettitte pounded the strike zone early and often, as he had a lot of first pitch strikes, and threw only 94 pitches in his eight innings of work.



The Red Sox newly acquired Starter Ryan Dempster didn’t fair to well in his first start with Boston, as he picked up his first loss of the season. Dempster only was able to last five innings, while allowing three runs on five hits, and four walks, as control was a big issue for Dempster on Thursday. Dempster was however able to strikeout eight Yankees, but his ball to strike ratio was not good at all.

In a great Yankees moment Mariano Rivera came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning to his classic Enter Sandman entrance after missing most of last season due to tearing his ACL in Kansas City. Rivera was able to kick off some of the rust earning his first save of the season, but it was a bit interesting for Rivera, as he gave up one run, one hit, and a walk in the bottom of the ninth.

The Yankees were able to get on the board early in this one taking their first lead of the season in the 2nd inning thanks to a base hit from recently acquired Lyle Overbay, which scored Travis Hafner and Eduardo Nunez.

For the first time in over a year Brett Gardner was able to go deep for his first homerun since September 2011 against the Orioles. Gardner went two for three, with a walk, and a solo homerun in the third inning off Dempster.

The final Yankee run came on another solo homerun this time by Francisco Cervelli, who took Red Sox Reliever Clayton Mortensen deep in the seventh inning for a little more insurance for Pettitte. The homerun was no cheap one for Cervelli either, as it was an estimated 444ft to left field.

Eduardo Nunez finished off a strong series at the plate by going two for three, with a double, and run scored. Filling in for Derek Jeter at Shortstop, Nunez is hitting .400 to start the season.

Next up for the Yankees will be a Friday afternoon game in Detroit against the Tigers, as Ivan Nova faces Doug Fister.