The calendar said it was April 4th. Mother nature made it feel like July 4th and the streets after the game felt like November 4th.
The first official pitch delivered by Josh Beckett to Derek Jeter came at 8:10PM Eastern Time as shown in the picture.
Derek Jeter proceeded to ground out to shortstop Marco Scutaro to start the game and the season.
In matter of fact, Josh Beckett retired the first 3 batters he faced in 3 minutes.
I turned to the King and said that was aberration.
I wish I was joking but as usual I was proven right.
I always count on a game these days to go 3 hours. They could have spare us the 46 minutes.
After all, it was the World Champion Yankees and the rival Boston Red Sox playing.
The ace pitchers were on the mound at least to start the game. That is CC Sabathia for the Yankees and Josh Beckett for the Red Sox.
Neither lasted as long as I had hoped they would.
Josh Beckett couldn't even finish 5 innings. He wound up doing 4 and 2/3's.
He got lit up for 5 runs before he departed.
Jorge Posada got the season's first run when he hit a home run off the screen that's attached to the Pesky pole in rightfield for a solo shot.
Newly acquired Yankee and former Tiger Curtis Granderson followed with a bomb of a home run that went into the bleachers over the bullpen in right centerfield in his first official Yankee at bat.
The Yankees added some clutch 2 out hits to score a few other runs.
In addition, Brett Gardner stole home to fill out Josh Beckett's lousy line.
CC Sabathia was pitching okay until the 5th inning when he started to struggle partly because of home plate umpire Joe West who was awful calling balls & strikes all night for both teams.
Sabathia got through the 5th then genius manager Joe Girardi stayed with him too long in the 6th inning allowing the Red Sox to tie the game at 5. The Yankees had lead in the game 5-1 with their ace on the mound.
Once the bullpen came in for both teams the game went from bad to worse.
The Yankees wound up regaining the lead 7-5.
The Red Sox did however fight back again and eventually took the lead thanks to a double off the Green Monster by Kevin Youkilis to give them a 8-7 lead in the bottom of the 7th inning.
They tacked on an insurance run in the 8th as well.
Jonathon Papelbon came on to close the door when he got Curtis Granderson to ground out to third. Granderson did represent the tying run.
It's only the first game but it spoke volumes for what lies ahead for this season and future seasons.
When I grew up watching baseball your ace pitcher was an ace. He finished what he started most of the time or least half of the time.
Nowadays if a pitcher lasts 6 innings in a game it's an accomplishment.
It's unfortunately sad but true. The more they make, they less they do.
I wish that were true in the real world which most of us live in.
I hope this was just a rotten apple if you will.
Nothing beats a rare feeling. That's when the starting pitcher goes the distance and controls his fate as far as winning or losing his own game.
Other interesting notes to mention as part of the Opening Night festivities were the following:
Former Red Sox Pedro Martinez was on hand to throw out the first pitch.
Needless to say, he received an arousing ovation from the Red Sox faithful.
During the 7th inning stretch, Boston native Steven Tyler lead singer of the Rock band, Aerosmith sung God Bless America.
In the 8th inning, Neil Diamond was brought out onto the field to do a live version of his song Sweet Caroline which has became a fan favorite at Fenway the last 4 or 5 years.
Don't get me wrong I'm happy baseball's back.
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