(AP Photos/Mike Carlson)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |  | R | H | E | |
Houston | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
NY Yankees | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 4 | 8 | 1 |
WP: Z. Segovia (1-0)
LP: B. Moehler (0-1)
SV: P. Hughes (1)
With their opening day lineup tonight, or at least what many believe to be their opening day lineup, the Yankees defeated the Houston Astors tonight by the score of 4-1.
One of the more interesting things about the lineup was that Brett Gardner started in center with Curtis Granderson in left. I'm not sure if this means anything and it could have been nothing more than a coincidence, but it's somewhat odd that Girardi would choose this night and this lineup to give Gardy some time in center.
Anyway, on to the action... A.J. Burnett got the start for the Yankees and didn't have his best command but still pitched OK. In 2.1 innings he threw 66 pitches and allowed a run on two hits, struck out two, and walked four. Here's Burnett on what he was working on tonight:
It was then Mariano Rivera's turn for his spring debut. He actually loaded the bases before getting out of the inning unscathed. He struck out one, walked one, and allowed a hit while throwing 27 pitches. He also told reporters after the game that he feels much better than he did last year at this time.
Phil Hughes was the star of the game on the pitching side for the Yankees. He threw four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out two. He threw 59 pitches, 37 for strikes. Hughes worked on his changeup once again, and this time started to see the results he's been looking for.
Offensively the Yankees were led by Jorge Posada, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Mark Teixeira chipped in with a solo homer in two at-bats. Austin Romine and Nick Swisher picked up the other RBI for the Yanks.
One of the more interesting things about the lineup was that Brett Gardner started in center with Curtis Granderson in left. I'm not sure if this means anything and it could have been nothing more than a coincidence, but it's somewhat odd that Girardi would choose this night and this lineup to give Gardy some time in center.
Anyway, on to the action... A.J. Burnett got the start for the Yankees and didn't have his best command but still pitched OK. In 2.1 innings he threw 66 pitches and allowed a run on two hits, struck out two, and walked four. Here's Burnett on what he was working on tonight:
“My emphasis is on my four-seam right now,” Burnett said. “My next pen I’ll probably throw 30 down and away and that’s all I’ll throw. I have to get that back and establish that… That’s my bread and butter. As good of a hook as I’ve got, that four-seamer is what sets the table. I’ve got to get confidence back in that.”After Burnett was finished, Zach Segovia came on in relief and picked up his first win of the spring. He threw 1.2 hitless innings while striking out two.
It was then Mariano Rivera's turn for his spring debut. He actually loaded the bases before getting out of the inning unscathed. He struck out one, walked one, and allowed a hit while throwing 27 pitches. He also told reporters after the game that he feels much better than he did last year at this time.
Phil Hughes was the star of the game on the pitching side for the Yankees. He threw four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out two. He threw 59 pitches, 37 for strikes. Hughes worked on his changeup once again, and this time started to see the results he's been looking for.
“I threw some in counts where normally I would never, ever do it,” he said. “And I got good results with it.”His spring ERA is now down to 2.08 and I have to believe he may have put himself in the lead for that fifth starters spot with tonight's performance. According to Joe Girardi, this is when results start to count and Hughes stepped up tonight. This puts that much more pressure on Joba Chamberlain as he takes the mound tomorrow against the Phillies.
Offensively the Yankees were led by Jorge Posada, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Mark Teixeira chipped in with a solo homer in two at-bats. Austin Romine and Nick Swisher picked up the other RBI for the Yanks.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .217 |
| 2-Nunez, E, PR-SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .278 |
| Johnson, N, DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .375 |
| a-Romine, Au, PH-DH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .222 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .353 |
| Vazquez, Jo, 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .143 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Laird, 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .368 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .455 |
| Corona, 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .188 |
| Posada, C | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .421 |
| Montero, J, C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .286 |
| Granderson, LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .182 |
| Curtis, LF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Swisher, RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .300 |
| Hoffmann, RF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .150 |
| Gardner, CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .182 |
| 1-Golson, PR-CF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Totals | 32 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 8 | |
a-Grounded out for Johnson, N in the 7th. 1-Ran for Gardner in the 7th. 2-Ran for Jeter in the 7th. | ||||||||
BATTING 2B: Swisher (3, Moehler), Cano (3, Moehler). HR: Teixeira (2, 3rd inning off Moehler, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter; Teixeira 4; Rodriguez, A; Cano 2; Posada 2; Swisher 2; Gardner. RBI: Swisher (5), Teixeira (3), Posada (4), Romine, Au (1). 2-out RBI: Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano; Jeter; Vazquez, Jo. Team RISP: 2-for-8. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING E: Hughes, P (1, fielding). DP: 2 (Laird-Cano-Vazquez, Jo, Nunez, E-Corona-Vazquez, Jo). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Burnett, A | 2.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6.75 |
| Segovia (W, 1-0) | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rivera, Ma (H, 1) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Hughes, P (S, 1) | 4.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.08 |
Tomorrow's Game
The Yankees head to Bright House Field tomorrow afternoon to take on the Phillies. Andy Pettitte will start for the Yankees with Joba Chamberlain pitching in relief. Joe Blanton will start for the Phils. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m., and the game can be seen on MLB.TV.
