ST. PETERSBURG– Standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall, Ronald Torreyes is the last player anyone would have predicted to hit the first home run of the season for the Yankees.
But he did just that on Tuesday night, as he used his power to help propel the Yankees to their first win of the season — a 5-0 triumph over the Tampa BayRays.
Torreyes took the first pitch, an 86 mph cutter from Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi, deep into the left field bleachers in the third inning. Ironically, the little guy brought home the giant, Aaron Judge, who had singled in the previous at-bat.
This is a hilarious picture. pic.twitter.com/uIqKrGlSLg
— Andrew (@Andrew_Rotondi) April 4, 2017
Matt Holliday collected his first hit and RBI as a Yankee later in the inning when he sent a pitch up near the catwalks of Tropicana Field. Rays left fielder, Peter Bourjos, lost sight of the ball which allowed Brett Gardner to score from second base.
With the Yankees up 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third, CC Sabathia took control of the game. Overall, the southpaw went five strong innings and allowed only three hits on the night. Sabathia posted a 6.75 ERA in spring training but insisted he was fine following multiple rough outings. The lefty’s fastball had some life tonight, too, as it hit 93 mph a couple of times.
Odorizzi kept his team in the game but received no help on the other end. The 27-year-old righty threw six innings, struck out four but surrendered four earned runs.
Offensively, the Rays strung together only five hits and had one real opportunity to score in the eighth. Logan Morrison came to the plate with the bases loaded but Dellin Betances got him to ground out to first to end the inning.
Yankees third baseman Chase Headley continued his hot start to the new campaign, going 2-4 with a homerun and two RBI. The switch-hitter raised his average to a gaudy .675 on the young season and he has been pesky at the plate. In the first two games of the season, he has taken advantage of the Rays implementing a shift against him. Four of Headley’s five hits this season have come from him beating the shift and taking the ball opposite field.
?REPORT: Chase Headley is the early favorite for Comeback Player of the Year. #MLB #WhatANiceGuy pic.twitter.com/C6PpanOaP2
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) April 5, 2017
Aroldis Chapman came on in the ninth inning to secure the win for the Yankees. Chapman fanned two and didn’t allow a hit. The Yankees will look for the series win on Wednesday as Michael Pineda matches up against Alex Cobb.
Win- CC Sabathia (1-0)
Loss- Jake Odorizzi (0-1)
Notables:
Rays
Steven Souza Jr. – 2-4
Evan Longoria- 1-2, 2 BB
Yankees
Ronald Torreyes- 1-4, HR (1) in 3rd, 2 RBI
Chase Headley- 2-4, Solo HR (1) in 6th, 2 RBI
