tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Great Day In The Bronx As Yankees Win 5-0

On a bright sunny day in the Bronx, with Yankee great Jorge Posada throwing out the first pitch, the Yankees came out swinging and received a great game from Hiroki Kuroda to post a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Opening day was a rebound of sorts for some Yankees. Kuroda did not have a good start with the Yanks in his first game in Tampa against the Rays and there were many who were wondering whether or not Kuroda could pitch in the American League. Well, yesterday Kuroda went 8+ innings allowing 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6. If the Yankees get this type of performance from Kuroda throughout the season, the money spent to acquire him will be well worth it. It was a nice bounce back game from the former Dodger.

Alex Rodriguez had been struggling at the plate heading into yesterday's game. Well ARod went 3-4 with a monster home run to center field. Manager Joe Girardi's lineup switch, moving ARod to 3rd in the batting order and Robinson Cano to clean-up, seemed to be agreeable to the Yankee third baseman. ARod's production will be a key factor in the Yankees success this season.

This afternoon, the Yankees will face former Texas Ranger C.J. Wilson. The Yankees will counter with Phil Hughes. Hughes will be looking to pitch beyond 5 innings today which will mean that he will have to try to reduce his pitch count early on in the game. A strong game by Hughes will continue the good feeling among Yankee fans that Opening Day presented. It would also send an early message to the rest of the American League that the Yankees are poised for a great season in 2012.