Opening Day started with a bang.
Mere moments after a bearded Carlos Rodon set down the Brewers 1-2-3, Austin Wells stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the Yankee first. He would, in that at-bat not only become the first catcher to ever lead off a game in New York Yankee history, but with one swing of the bat, became the first catcher in MLB history to lead off an Opening Day with a big fly.
Two of the newest Yankees, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt went down in their first at-bats, but not before the damage was done.
Through two innings, Rodon continued to pitch well, only allowing a bloop single and a fielder’s choice and not allowing any damage. In terms of memorable moments, Jazz Chisholm Jr. took a ball and did a “Soto-shuffle” in honor of his old teammate, immediately striking out afterward; but it wouldn’t matter as two batters later, Anthony Volpe continued his hot hitting from the 2024 World Series and porched a homer to right. 2-0 Yankees after two.
But Carlos Rodon‘s success would take a hiccup in the third inning, as he gave up a bomb to the Brewers’ surprising Spring Training slugger, Vinny Capra, followed by a single by Brice Turang. Rodon would then set down Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich on a strikeout and a fly out to center, and getting the catcher Contreras to strike out on a “Sword” (check swing). 2-1 Yankees.
After an uneventful bottom of the 3rd, Rodon tripped over the bag trying to beat Sal Frelick to first, and Yankee fans collectively held their breath. He stayed in the game, and after Jazz made a nice play to collect the second out, ended the frame by gunning out Mitchell at first, escaping trouble.
Opening the bottom of the 4th, Cody Bellinger became the second member of his family to ever get a hit in Yankee pinstripes, but that was all she wrote. If there were any further concern about if Rodon might have hurt himself, “Big C” would strike out the side in the 5th, including two of the nicest curveballs and a slider that you will probably see all year.
In the bottom of the 5th, Ben Rice scorched a single + E9 off the wall in right, momentarily tricking Joe Buck into thinking it might have the height, Wells then worked a walk, and Judge came to the plate looking to blow it open, but Freddy Peralta, with ice in his veins, struck him out on a high fastball. Oh, baseball.
The top of the 6th is where things started to get scary for Yankees fans; Rodon just missed to Yelich for his first walk of the game, putting the tying run on first and bringing slugging catcher Contreras to the plate. He grounded into a fielders choice, as the Brewers continued to just beat out potential double plays. Rhys Hoskins would work a long at-bat, resulting in the second walk of the inning, and ending Rodon’s day; a strong outing, but once again one that is not marked by length. His line upon leaving: 5.1 IP/ 4H / 1 R / 2 BB / 7K.
Tim Hill, the side winding lefty would relieve him, and after getting a ground ball force out, allowed a 23.9 MPH infield single to load the bases. The Brewers would pinch hit with Collins, a Rule 5 pick, who was quickly in a hole after two strikes (which would have been balls under the ABS system) were called, but worked the count to 2-2; on the 9th pitch of the at-bat, a grounder to Volpe ended the inning in scary fashion, as the Brewers’ runner blazed through the base (which may or may not have been illegal). Rodon’s line remained preserved.
When Aaron Judge stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 7th, there were runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, and having struck out in a big moment earlier in the game, Judge was not about to let that happen again; swinging, he hit a sharp ground ball down the 3rd baseline, and off the bag! Rice scores from 2nd, 3-1 Yankees. Bellinger was next, and he hit a sac-fly to score Oswaldo Cabrera; 4-1 Yankees. Goldschmidt would hit a looper into right, but was robbed by Chourio of his first Yankee hit, sending them to the 8th.
Playoff Closer Luke Weaver – the Weave Dog (thanks Jomboy!) – shutdown the Brew Crew in the 8th, and the Yankee offense went down quickly; bringing in former Brewer, and current Yankee Closer Devin Williams to shut down his old squad. Almost immediately, he got into trouble; a single and a long double put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, and the tying run at the plate, whom he promptly walked. A sac-fly would score one, leaving runners on the corners with one out. Bauer would steal second, putting both runners in scoring position, before Chourio struck out for the 5th time. But there was no time to exhale the way the inning was going, with veteran Christian Yelich at the plate.
And with a 3-2 count, 35 pitches into the inning, and on the brink of disaster…SHADES OF JOHN WETTELAND! Williams strikes out his old teammate to save the game, after allowing one run and threatening more. Ball Game Over, Yankees Win! (Cue John Sterling). 1 game down, 1 win down, 161 to go.
