One of the most well-known rivalries in all of sports writes another chapter into the history books with a three game set in The Bronx. The World Series favorite Yankees take on the eager and hungry Boston Red Sox. Both sides locked in, firing on all cylinders, who will prevail?
Game 1: Red Sox 1, Yankees 5
Probables: Ryan Weber (0-1, 14.73 ERA) vs Jordan Montgomery (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
W/L: Jordan Montgomery (1-0), Ryan Weber (0-2)
Taking the ball in the Yankees’ 2020 home opener and also making his season debut was left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery went the distance in the game as he prevailed and in the end, earned the win on his strong performance. Striking out four while only earning one run, the Yankees starter showed his true pinstripes. For Boston, it was Ryan Weber getting the opening nod. Weber only lasted 3.1 innings against the high-caliber Yankees offense while allowing three runs and four walks.
Jumping out to an early lead, Boston’s Michael Chavis (1) homered to left field to grab a quick 1-0 lead. But unfortunately, this would be the only light that shines out of the tunnel as the Red Sox would go on to be shut out for seven straight innings.
For New York, the bats stayed hot, as usual. Aaron Judge (3) tallied another home run to his season total while scoring DJ LeMahieu. Third baseman Gio Urshela (1), “the most happy fella”, crushed one to deep right and into the empty crowd to put the Yankees up 3-1.
Heading to the bottom of the eighth, veteran outfielder Brett Gardner (1) added two on the Yankees total while scoring Tyler Wade.
Shutting down the Red Sox lineup, the strong bullpen arms of Chad Green, Adam Ottovino and Johnathan Holder struck out five in 3.1 innings of work. An all-around team effort led by starter Jordan Montgomery takes game one against the Red Sox with a final score of 5-1.
Player of the Game: NYY – Jordan Montgomery: 5.2 IP, 4 K, ER, BB
–
Game 2: Red Sox 2, Yankees 5
Probables: Zack Godley (0-0, 0-0 ERA) vs Masahiro Tanaka (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
W/L: Nick Nelson (1-0) , Zack Godley (0-1)
After having a major setback in Spring Training 2.0, New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka looked to start his season on the right note. Although only throwing 51 pitches in 2.2 innings, Tanaka had a very productive opening start. Some may say allowing four hits on three strikeouts isn’t perfect, but New York’s offense took care of the rest and pushed the team to victory.
Creating a dent in the scoreboard in first in tonight’s game two was Aaron Judge (4). Going yard in the bottom half of the first, Judge increased his season total to four and extended his home run streak to four games in a row. Joining Judge on tonight’s home run train was the young star, Gio Urshela. The third-baseman was the main focus of the game as he flashed his potential in the field and at the plate. Crushing a grand slam (2) off Boston’s starter Zack Godley, Urshela extended the early Yankee lead to five in just the second inning.
And for the Red Sox, their pair of runs came in the third inning as Xander Bogaerts would double that would eventually score two.
In the Yankee bullpen going a combined 6.1 innings, the strong selection of arms secured the game. While making his MLB debut, right-hander Nick Nelson showed promise in his three innings of work. But in the end, it was David Hale going two innings and eventually closing out the game. The Yankees, led by Manager Aaron Boone, steals the first two games of the three game set with a final of 5-2.
Player of the Game: NYY – Gio Urshela: 1-3, Grand Slam (HR), BB, SB, R
–
Game 3: Red Sox 7, Yankees 9
Probables: Matt Hall (0-0, 6.25 ERA) vs James Paxton (0-1, 27.00 ERA)
W/L: Adam Ottavino (0-1), Matt Barnes (1-1)
In the rubber match the opening series at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx Bombers were looking to break out the brooms and take three straight against their division rival Boston Red Sox. If you like high flying action, well, this was certainly the game to watch as a combined six home runs and five extra base hits headlined tonight’s action in The Bronx.
Grabbing an early lead in the first inning, Boston’s Xander Bogaerts (3) took James Paxton deep which scored J.D Martinez. This solo home run would ignite a reaction chain of runs and home runs throughout the game.
Countering with a three-run home run of his own, New York’s Aaron Judge (4) clobbered a pitch to left field to score Miguel Andújar and DJ LeMahieu.
All hands on deck and leading a three-run top of the third inning, Boston’s Rafael Devers singled to right which scored Kevin Pillar. Adding to his RBI total, Xander Bogaerts singled to left which led Devers to round the bases and score on a throwing error. Which was ruled a single for Bogaerts, it ultimately put him on third. In the same inning, the hot bat of Christian Vázquez led Bogaerts to score. At this point, Boston was holding a strong 5-2 lead.
In the bottom of the third, New York’s Gary Sanchez doubled to deep right to score Giancarlo Stanton. The very next batter, Gio Urshela added to his breakout series with a double of his own leading Sanchez to score, 5-5 a piece.
Tallying onto his headline performance, Xander Bogaerts (4) lifted a Mike King fastball into deep left center to take the lead in the top of the fifth, 6-5.
Welcome to the home run fest, Luke Voit (2). Crushing a ball just over the left field fence, the bat of Voit made things even at six a piece headed towards the late innings.
Rounding out a stellar performance at the plate, Boston’s Rafael Devers (1) pushed the Red Sox to a late one-run lead in the seventh.
When they’re down, somehow, someway, New York always scratches and claws their way back into the game in the late innings. This time, it was DJ LeMahieu beginning the late inning rally. LeMahieu’s RBI single tied things up at seven but, boy, the party was just getting started. Grabbing the attention of the baseball universe, the 6-foot-7 heart and soul of the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge (5), crushed a pitch and sent it into orbit to take the late game lead.
Etching his name into history books, Judge has homered six times in five games to kick off the 2020 season. There’s no question you’ll hear his name in the AL MVP race.
That’s your ballgame, and that’s your series. New York headlined by standout offensive performances from Gio Urshela, Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu, takes all three games of their inaugural home opening series with a final score of 9-7 in the rubber match. New York advances to 7-1, while Boston slides to 3-7.
Player of the Game: NYY – Aaron Judge: 2-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB
Series MVP: NYY – Aaron Judge: 3-7: 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Next Series: Aug 3-6 vs Philadelphia (Aug 3-4, home / Aug 5-6, away)
Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran / NorthJersey.com
