The 2022 Regular season has officially begun! Let’s take a look at what happened in the AL East. It’s expected to not see the starters go deep into games (unless it’s the Rays) since the pitchers did have a short spring. Most of the starters are stretched out to around 75-80 pitches.
NEW YORK YANKEES
Gerrit Cole started for the Yankees. His first inning wasn’t great. He gave up three runs. His final line was 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, and 1 HR. He threw 68 pitches with 42 of them strikes. He commented that the delayed start time was “an unforeseen challenge” for him. It was 4 minutes late. I can understand that though. Players are creatures of habit and timing is everything.
Anthony Rizzo hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the first which brought the Yankees closer. Giancarlo Stanton hit his first home run in the 4th inning which tied the game. DJ LeMahieu also hit a game-tying home run in the 8th inning. The game went into extra innings and with the help of two guys from a trade that confused Yankee fans for a while. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa was the automatic runner brought in by Josh Donaldson in the 11th. Donaldson is the third Yankee to record a walk-off RBI in his team debut. The other two were Roy Weatherly on 1943’s Opening Day and Chase Headley on July 22, 2014. The Yanks won 6-5.
Luis Severino took the mound in game two. He went three innings, struck out five, and gave up two runs. His stuff looked great. Rob Marinaccio made his MLB debut and went one scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Rizzo and Stanton each hit their second home runs in the game after the team was trailing early. Rizzo’s tied it and Stanton’s was the winning hit. The Yankees won 4-2.
SERIES FINALE
Jordan Montgomery lasted 3.1 innings, struck out four, and gave up three runs. He had a bit of a scare with a comebacker hitting his knee but was able to continue pitching. Aaron Judge went 2-for-5 and Giancarlo Stanton went 3-for-5. The Yankees lost 4-3.
.@Isiahkf11 & @HipHipJose5 set the table for Tony to tie it up. pic.twitter.com/ySiNF3kmjZ — New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 11, 2022
The Jays come into town for four games. Jameson Taillon, Nestor Cortes Jr., Gerrit Cole, and Luis Severino will start the games.
BOSTON RED SOX
Nathan Eovaldi took the mound and although he gave up three runs in his outing, he still managed to look better than Cole on the mound. His final line was 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, and 7 K. He threw 76 pitches which 56 of them were strikes. Rafael Devers started the scoring by hitting a 2-run home run in the first inning. J.D. Martinez brought in Xander Bogaerts with a double that same inning. The Sox offense scored another run in the 6th after the Yankees tied it but it was erased with a home run.
Garrett Whitlock was asked to pitch three innings but he only lasted 2.1. He gave up two hits, one earned run, and struck out four in 38 pitches. The fact that Whitlock was asked to go around three innings on Opening Day says a lot about the lack of depth the Sox have in their bullpen. Maybe signing Trevor Story shouldn’t have been the only move made.
Later after the game, Alex Cora said that Bogaerts had a tight hamstring during his at-bat in the 10th inning and Matt Barnes had a tight back which was why he wasn’t available. The Red Sox lost 6-5 in 11 innings.
Bogaerts was able to continue playing after Friday night’s concern. Nick Pivetta went 5.2 innings, struck out four, and gave up four runs. That was all the Yankees needed to win. Trevor story got his first hit with the Red Sox. Alex Verdugo went 2-for-3. The Sox lost 4-2.
Kiké kicking off the 2022 edition of @JetBlue's #FlyestPlays in style! 😎 pic.twitter.com/8SnFyi85QU — Red Sox (@RedSox) April 11, 2022
SERIES FINALE
Tanner Houck lasted 3.1 innings, struck out three, and gave up three runs. J.D. Martinez hit an RBI double in the first inning to start the scoring. Bobby Dalbec hit his first home run of the season, giving the Sox the lead and win. Kike Hernandez is still looking for his first hit of the season. The Sox won 4-3.
The Sox head to Detroit for a three-game set before playing at home this weekend. Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, and Nathan Eovaldi will be the starters before heading home to Fenway. Former Red Sox starter, Eduardo Rodriguez will pitch against the team in the series finale.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
The Rays opened the season at home against the Orioles. Shane McClanahan was the starter. He went 4.1 innings, gave up four hits, and had seven strikeouts. Manuel Margot went 2-for-2. Randy Arozarena went 2-for-4. Wander Franco went 3-for-4. After leading since the third innings, Matt Wisler blew the lead in the 6th. Brooks Raley got the save. The Rays won 2-1.
David Rasmussen went four innings, struck out three, and gave up two runs against the O’s. Josh Fleming went 3.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Josh Lowe went 2-for-4. Rays won 5-3.
Corey Kluber pitched 4.2 scoreless innings, struck out five, and walked four. Brandon Loew went 2-for-5 with a home run. Wander Franco went 3-for-4 and Harold Ramirez went 3-for-4. The Rays won and swept the O’s 8-0.
The next opponent for the Rays is the A’s. Luis Patino and Shane McClanahan are scheduled to pitch.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
The season started in Toronto for the Jays who faced the Rangers. Jose Berrios was the starter and he did not perform like one. He lasted only one out in the first inning giving up four runs on three hits and two walks. It was a bullpen game for the Jays but their offense had their back. Bo Bichette went 2-for-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr went 2-for-4. Teoscar Hernandez hit a 3-run home run in the 5th inning. Danny Jansen went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in the 8th. The Jays won 10-8.
Kevin Gausman pitched five innings, struck out five, and gave up three runs. Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 and hit his first home run. Alejandro Kirk went 2-for-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr went 2-for-4. The Jays won 4-3.
Hyun Jin Ryu pitched 3.1 innings, struck out four, and gave up six runs. George Springer went 2-for-5 with a home run. Matt Chapman also went 2-for-4 with a home run. Guerrero Jr hit his first home run of the season. The Jays lost 12-6.
Vladdy’s homer? Ridiculous 💥 pic.twitter.com/rl5sROSadO — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 10, 2022
The Jays head to the Bronx for a four-game series against the Yankees. Alek Manoah, Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Berrios, and Kevin Gausman are scheduled to pitch.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
John Means took the mound for the O’s. He pitched four innings a