The New York Yankees formula for success was out in full effect in their Opening Day victory over Baltimore.
- Baltimore Orioles: 2 (0-1)
- New York Yankees: 7 (1-0)
- W: Masahiro Tanaka (1-0)
- L: Andrew Cashner (0-1)
- AL, Final, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York.
Hit the ball out of the ballpark, draw long counts, get quality starting pitching, and turn it over to the bullpen; this is the blueprint for the New York Yankees in 2019 and it was out in full force in their 7-2 Opening Day victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
It started early in this one with Luke Voit setting the tone for the day right out of the gate. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton singled to give New York runners on the corner and Voit to the plate.
Voit would go on to do what he and the Yankees do best crushing one to center and an early 3-0 lead.
A 3-run shot for the monster known as Luke Voit. Yankees lead 3-0 early. #PinstripePride pic.twitter.com/DDFdpYPnwF
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) March 28, 2019
That would be all Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka needed as he would give the Bombers 5.2 innings of two-run baseball while striking out five Orioles. Of the 17 outs he recorded, eight of them were on ground balls which is what Tanaka does best.
Even though Tanaka only needed the three runs to work with, that didn’t stop the Yankees’ bats from causing havoc to Baltimore pitching. They would add two runs without recording a hit in the fifth inning forcing multiple deep counts.
Entering the eighth, the only sour part about Opening Day for the Bombers was the performance of Greg Bird. Entering his final at-bat, the troubled first baseman already posted a hat trick and facing a left-handed pitcher for his final at-bat of the day.
It didn’t matter though as Bird would pull one into the Yankees bullpen for his first homer of 2019.
Greg Bird, there he goes in the eighth. 7-2 Yankees. #PinstripePride pic.twitter.com/gOuu8W6h4x
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) March 28, 2019
Following Troy Tulowitzki’s first hit since July 27, 2017, every Yankee reached base safely in their first game. Voit reached base in all three of his at-bats along with a hit by pitch, Aaron Judge picked up two singles and scored three runs, and Giancarlo Stanton reached base twice.
New York’s bullpen would close the door leaving everyone happy to start off 2019. They will enjoy a day off Friday before resuming their series with the Orioles Saturday.
