Field Level Media
Mar 28, 2019
Luke Voit hit a three-run homer and tied a career high with four RBIs while Masahiro Tanaka pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory in their home opener over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday afternoon.
After homering 14 times in 132 at-bats last summer following a trade from St. Louis, Voit homered on the fifth pitch he saw from Andrew Cashner (0-1). Voit hit New York's first homer of the season when he lifted a 3-1 slider 428 feet to straightaway center field on to the netting above Monument Park.
Voit drove in his fourth run when he was grazed above the elbow with the bases loaded in the fifth against Mike Wright to make it 5-1.
Aaron Judge reached four times and scored three runs while Giancarlo Stanton also reached three times and scored a run. Judge singled twice and drew two walks while Stanton singled and drew a pair of walks.
Miguel Andujar also contributed to the other two Yankee runs. He hit into a double play with the bases loaded that scored Judge in the third and then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field in the fifth.
Greg Bird homered in the eighth after striking out in his first three at-bats as the Yankees won consecutive season openers for the first time since 2005 to 2008.
Tanaka (1-0) came into the game 0-2 with a 9.49 ERA in three Opening Day starts but encountered few difficulties, allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits. He struck out five, walked none and threw 56 of 83 pitches for strikes.
Adam Ottavino struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings, former Oriole Zack Britton pitched a scoreless eighth and Aroldis Chapman finished up with a scoreless ninth.
Trey Mancini had three hits, including an RBI base hit in the sixth for the Orioles, who lost the debut of manager Brandon Hyde.
Rio Ruiz drove in Baltimore's other run with an RBI single in the fourth that followed a throwing error by Andujar at third.
Cashner started for Alex Cobb, who was scratched due to a sore right groin. Before the game, Hyde said he expects Cobb to return by next Thursday's home opener against the Yankees.
Cashner lasted four-plus innings and allowed six runs on six hits. He was lifted after Gardner and Judge started the fifth by drawing walks.
--Field Level Media