After six games on the road, the Yankees are finally back in the Bronx. The team kicks off a nine-game homestand with their home opener this afternoon, assuming the weather cooperates. The forecast calls for showers later today, but it appears they will hold off long enough to get the game in. It will be cloudy and smell like smoke, however.
Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera will throw out the ceremonial first pitches to Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter before the game. The Core Four, you see. I guess Bernie Williams drew the short straw. Jeter should get a massive standing ovation before his first at-bat since this is his final home opener. He’ll get cheered all season long, no doubt about it, but I think today’s ovation will be the biggest until his final home game. Should be fun.
Modest goal for today: get the leadoff guy out. The first batter of the first inning is 6-for-6 with two singles, a double, and three homers against the Yankees this season. Seriously. After giving up three leadoff homers in 2012 and 2013 combined, they’ve allowed three in their first six games of 2014. I’m not asking too much, am I? Here is the Orioles lineup and here is Joe Girardi’s starting lineup:
- LF Brett Gardner
- SS Derek Jeter
- CF Jacoby Ellsbury
- RF Carlos Beltran
- C Brian McCann
- DH Alfonso Soriano
- 2B Brian Roberts
- 1B Kelly Johnson
- 3B Yangervis Solarte
RHP Hiroki Kuroda
Like I said before, it’s cloudy but the rain is supposed to hold off until later this afternoon. Not the best baseball weather, but they’ll live. The Yankees say pre-game ceremonies will begin at 12:44pm ET, and first pitch is scheduled for 1:08pm ET. You can watch today’s game live on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy.
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