Yankees hand Jays heavy Opening Day loss
New York - April 6th, 2015
Expectations aren't the highest for the Blue Jays this season, but the fans certainly didn't expect to suffer an 8 run defeat on Opening Day. The Toronto bullpen blew up, while Michael Pineda pitched a quality game for the Yankees for his first win of the season. Both teams now get a day off before the series resumes on Wednesday.
Scoring began in the first, after Marcus Stroman loaded the bases for Alex Rodriguez. However, a walk and a sacrifice fly followed by a double play meant the Yankees scored only twice. Stroman recovered and didn't allow a run after, exiting the game after the 5th.
Pineda pitched a gem, allowing just 5 Jays on base through 7 innings, striking out 7 opponents. He was credited with his first win of the season.
In the 6th inning, Roberto Osuna and Steve Delabar combined for 7 runs before tallying a single out. Shockingly, none of those runs came on home runs and they didn't walk a single opponent.
Lefty Jeff Francis shut the door on the Yankees, going 2 and 2/3 scoreless with 2 punchouts, but it was too little, too late.
DH Danny Valencia doubled, allowing Josh Donaldson to score the Jays' only run of the game in the top of the 9th.
"We get 161 more opportunities to do things right," said Jays manager Manuel Almada following his debut in the dugout.