The 2010 season opener was more hyped than any April game in the history of baseball. It was the first game in the MLB on the eve of opening day and it was a match-up between two of the most hated rivals in sports. After all the build up, there was no way the game could rise to that level, was there? In typical Red Sox/Yankees rivalry fashion, the game matched and surpassed all of the anticipation and was a great way to begin the 2010 season.
For Red Sox fans, the first half of Sunday night’s game was taking a turn for the worse with their ace struggling and C.C. Sabathia looking like he was in mid-season form. As has become commonplace with the Red Sox teams of the past several years, the players knew they could comeback and no deficit is ever too large to overcome. And comeback the Sox did, twice.
Behind Kevin Youkilis’s 3 hits (2 doubles and a triple) and 2 RBIs and Dustin Pedroia’s 2 hits (home run and single) and 3 RBIs, the Sox rallied and scored a total of 9 runs on the night, quickly putting to rest the off season chatter about the Red Sox’s weak offensive. Newcomers Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro both jumped into the rivalry dropping in 2 hits a piece from the 8th and 9th hole, making Theo Epstein look like a genius with his off season moves.
Jacoby Ellsbury went 0-5 with 2 Ks on Sunday, but will need to be a catalyst at the top in order for this team to continue scoring in bunches. All in all, with production coming from the bottom of the lineup, the Sox have to pleased with the way they played in the opener. The Red Sox even got decent performances out of their bullpen on Sunday, getting an inning from the last man added to the roster, lefty Scott Schoeneweis.
For the Yankees, we know they are going to hit and score runs at will this season, but they have to be concerned with the arms in their bullpen, specifically their middle relievers. David Robertson allowed an inherited runner to score in the 6th inning, followed by 3 runs (2 earned) from Chan Ho Park in .2 innings, a walk to the one batter Damaso Marte faced (Ortiz), and finally Joba Chamberlain allowing a crucial insurance run to score in the bottom of the 8th.
This is only game 1 of 162 and there is a lot of baseball to be played, but the Red Sox can hold their heads up high. They not only won game 1, but they came from behind twice and were able to overcome a poor start from their ace and got a solid inning from their superstar closer, Jonathan Papelbon for the save. They were tested and succeeded for the first time in 2010.
After an off day on Monday, the Sox will look for a repeat in game 2 behind their young lefty, Jon Lester. Baseball is back and it’s here to stay…