Yankees Lose to Red Sox on Opening Day

greenwhichtime.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 1st, 2013

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Red Sox 2 Yankees 8

The New York Yankees didn’t get off to a good start on Opening Day with their injury depleted team, as the Boston Red Sox handed the Yankees their first loss of the season in convincing fashion.

The Yankees Ace and Opening Day Starter C.C. Sabathia, who is expected to carry the Yankees rotation, did not look good at all in his first start. Sabathia really struggled with his control, and his fastball was lackluster, as he had problems getting it over 91 mph, which made his changeup ineffective with only a five to six mph difference between the two pitches. Sabathia only went five innings, while giving up eight hits, four walks, and four runs, while striking out five in the loss.


The Red Sox Starter Jon Lester looked much better than Sabathia on Monday afternoon, as Lester looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2012 season. In the win Lester went five innings only giving up five hits, two walks, and two runs, while striking out seven batters.

The bullpen for the Yankees, which many thought is the strongest part of the team didn’t look very good either to start the season. David Phelps was the first pitcher out of the bullpen for the Yankees in 2013, and went 1.1 innings, while giving up one hit, two walks, and one run in his first appearance of the season. Joba Chamberlain also struggled in his first appearance of the season, as Chamberlain gave up three runs, three hits, and two walks in just two thirds of an inning.

Offensively for the Yankees their wasn’t much to talk about with most of the Bronx Bombers big bats out of the lineup with injuries, but they did get a good game from their new starting Catcher this season Francisco Cervelli. Cervelli was able to knock in the Yankees only two runs of the game with a two-out two-run single in the 4th inning, which ended up being the Yankees only two runs of the game.

New addition Kevin Youkilis made his debut in pinstripes against his former team, while getting the start at First Base for the injured Mark Teixeira. At the plate Youkilis went one for four with a double, and a strikeout in his Yankees debut.

The top of the Red Sox order was a thorn in the side of Yankees Pitchers all game, as the combo of Jacoby Ellsbury, and Shane Victorino both had very good games. In the leadoff spot Ellsbury went three for six, with a triple, two RBIs, and one run scored. Batting behind Ellsbury, Victorino went two for six, with three RBIs.

The Yankees will be off on Tuesday before resuming the series with the Red Sox on Wednesday night, with Hiroki Kuroda facing Clay Buchholz.