by Sphinx Drummond
The Good Guys celebrate Jeter’s career by defeating the Bronx Bombers 3-1.
W: J. Cosart (1-0)
L: H. Kuroda (0-1)
S: J. Fields (1)
So far the Dexter Fowler acquisition is looking totally brilliant. Leading off the game with a homer, Fowler brought back memories of the old days of Craig Biggio behaving in a similar fashion. Fowler also had a triple and finished with 2 runs scored, and is currently slugging 1.375. Jarred Cosart was sharp as nails for the first four innings but was pulled after a shaky (but scoreless) fifth inning and 88 pitches. Jerome Williams pitched a solid sixth inning, Kevin Chapman struggled in the seventh giving up a run before giving way to Matt Albers, who picked up the final out of the inning and pitched a scoreless eighth. Josh Fields pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save on the year.
Matt Dominguez capped the scoring when he hit a solo shot in the seventh inning, his first hit of the season. The Astros didn’t commit any errors, turned one double play, and Villar got his first stolen base. The defense looks improved this year. The pitching, starting and relieving, looks to be better this season. However, this team could struggle on offense. It’s just too early in the season to make any real judgments, and it was a Wednesday game, but so far so good.
Based on the respective payrolls of each team, it was another win for David over Goliath. $203,445,586 for the Yanks, the Astros will write checks for $21,133,500, this year. This year though, the Yankees only have two guys making more than all the Astros and Jeter’s not one of them. That would be Sabathia and Teixeira.The Astros are two games over 500 for the first time in two years. The Yankees are of course 0-2.
The undefeated Astros look for a sweep Thursday at 7:10 CT when Brett Oberholtzer squares off against Ivan Nova. Even as the Astros are undefeated, they are still looking up at the division leaders, the hated Mariners.
Stadium: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Attendance: 23,145 (55% full) – % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time: 3:18
Weather: indoors
Umpires: Home Plate – Phil Cuzzi, First Base – Brian Knight, Second Base – Quinn Wolcott, Third Base – Gerry Davis