Tanaka’s Home Debut A Loss
By Jason Evans
Apr 9, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) rounds first base after hitting a three run home run off of New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
If you watched the World Baseball Classic last year, there was a lot of talk about some of the young middle infielders that team Netherlands had. Andrelton Simmons had been up the year before for the Atlanta Braves. Xander Bogaerts was one of the premiere prospects in baseball. The one that hasn’t gotten as much pub was Orioles infielder Jonathan Schoop. The Yankees got to see Schoop’s talents tonight.
Masahiro Tanaka again struggled early but then settled down. In the second, Matt Wieters led off with a single. After a strikeout, Steve Lombardozzi was able to sneak a line drive past a diving Yangervis Solarte. Two batters later, Schoop followed with a bomb to left field.
The Yankees responded with two homers in the bottom of the second. Carlos Beltran and Kelly Johnson each hit their second homer of the season. For Beltran, he tied Johnny Mize for 80th on the all time list with his 359th homer.
Beltran started the tying rally in the fourth. He led off the inning with a double, went to third on a flyout and scored on Alfonso Soriano‘s groundout.
The game stayed that way until Shawn Kelley came in in the ninth. Ryan Flaherty led off with a double. Schoop and Nick Markakais singled to make it 4-3. Yankee killer Delmon Young followed with a single and Chris Davis drove in another with a sac fly.
The Yankees made it interesting in the bottom half off O’s closer Tommy Hunter. Soriano led off with a double. Kelly Johnson singled to make it first and third. Brian Roberts hit a sac fly to make it 5-4. Solarte would ground into a double play to end the game.
Round one through four of Yankees vs Red Sox begins tomorrow night at 7. Michael Pineda will get his first taste of the rivalry against Clay Buchholz.