This afternoon the Red Sox once again started the 162 game grind of a baseball season. In epic fashion, they started the game at Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees. With both the Sox and Yanks not having the potent lineups that they used to, the series doesn't have the same feel as it did years ago, but it's still Sox/Yanks baseball.
.jpg)
(Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images)
Jon Lester was taking the mound on Opening Day for the 3rd straight year. He would be facing the Yankee ace CC Sabathia. Lester is coming off his poorest year of record and looking to right the ship and the lead the pitching staff. Lester looked like his old dominant self in his first few innings. He did have a hiccup in the 4th inning where he allowed the only 2 runs of the game to score. Because of his high pitch count, Lester only went 5 innings, but he did what he needed to do to leave the bullpen with a chance to preserve a win. Lester's line for the night was 5 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB and 7 Ks. Sure it wasn't the best thing I've ever seen, but it was good enough.
The Sox bats for to CC Sabathia early and with the pitching of Lester and the bullpen that was all it took. The Sox scored 4 runs in the top of the 4th. Jackie Bradley Jr came to the plate for his first MLB plate appearance and walked to load the bases. Iglesias hit an RBI single to score the first run. Sox 1-0. Victorino hit a 2 run RBI single to have the Sox leading 3-0. The Sox scored their final run of the inning with a Pedey single to score Ells. Sox 4-0.
Uehara took the mound in the 6th and had a 5 pitch 1-2-3 inning. Wowza. In the top of the 7th, the Sox added on another run. Jackie Bradley Jr got his first MLB RBI with groundout to score Middlebrooks from 3rd. Sox 5-2. Andrew Miller took the mound in the 7th and walked the first two batters he saw. All of Red Sox Nation suddenly got very nervous. However, then Miller struck out Nunez and Cano before handing the ball over to Bailey. Bailey got the final out of the inning by striking out Youkilis. Shawn Kelley and Junichi Tazawa both pitched scoreless 8th innings for their respective teams.
In the 9th, the Yankees sent Joba Chamberlain and his moustache to the mound. Joba got two outs, but could not get the third out. Ellsbury got an RBI single to score Salty and Gomes and then Victorino hit an RBI single to plate Bradley Jr. Sox 8-2. Joba was done and Eppley got the final out to get the Yanks out of the inning.
Joel Hanrahan took the mound for the Sox. It wasn't a save situation, but I'm sure he still appreciated being in that spot. Hanrahan had himself a 1-2-3 inning to give the Sox their first win of the season!
Love That Dirty Water!
Red Sox 8 Yankees 2 BOXSCORE
WP: Lester (1-0) LP: Sabathia (0-1)
Also…since we are now playing the Yankees with a Youkilis. Here is Youk as a Yank. It is kinda bizarre hearing Yankee Stadium chant YYYOOOUUUKKK for him…and seeing him come to the mound for a chat with Joba.
Youk as a Yank…
(Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images)
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
