Game 2 Wrap-Up

(Courtesy of The AP)

Not exactly the start to the season that everybody was expecting, especially from the starting rotation.

Game Notes:

- Hiroki Kuroda wasn't very good in his first start that mattered as a Yankee.  He didn't have good command of any of his pitches and couldn't make a pitch when he needed to.  Like with CC the day before, a lesser pitcher probably gets taken out before the 5.2 innings that he pitched, so at least Kuroda gave the Yankees a little bit of length, but definitely not a strong outing.

- Despite putting 16 runners on base, the Yankees could never string together enough hits to get back into the game after going down 4-0 early and 6-2 after 6 innings.

- The Rays used the shift to their advantage on multiple occasions, getting Teix, C-Grand, and A-Rod to all hit into it for outs.  Hopefully other teams don't start employing this tactic against the Yankees regularly.

- The umpires correctly overturned a HR call to a ground-rule double in the bottom of the 7th after a fan reached over the wall and prevented Nick Swisher from making a catch on a ball hit by Evan Longoria.  Ironically enough, the fan was wearing a Derek Jeter jersey.

F*ck Yeahs:

- Swish: 1-3, 3-R HR, 2 BB.  Made Joe's decision to swap him and C-Grand in the lineup against a lefty look genius.

- C-Grand: 2-4, 3B, 2 R scored.  See statement above.

Oh Nos:

- Kuroda: Wasn't sharp in his Yankee debut- 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 2 K.  Could never really find the command on any of his pitches.

- Eduardo Nunez: Went 1-3 w/ an RBI at the plate, but committed the error that led to Kuroda's 2 unearned runs.  Like reader Scott put it: "That guy is a liability" defensively.

- Joe Girardi: Followed up his questionable Opening Day 1st-inning IBB with the equally questionable decision to let Clay Rapada face right-handed hitters in the 7th inning.  Did he think Rapada's career slash against righties was a joke?

- Clay Rapada: In fairness to Girardi, if Rapada doesn't walk Pena and give up a hit to Joyce (the lefties he was in to face), the 7th inning doesn't turn out so bad.

Next Up:

The Yanks will look to salvage the series and avoid being on the wrong end of a sweep to open the season with a day game after a night game.  Phil Hughes faces Jeremy Hellickson this afternoon at 1:40 EST.