New York Yankees 1 — Houston Astros 3
The Yankees offense didn’t come through behind a strong Kuroda start.
Hiroki Kuroda made his 2014 debut in the second game of the season. Dexter Fowler made it a rude welcome after the first pitch. Fowler would take the second pitch from Kuroda deep to right center field and the Yankees were down by one early. Dexter Fowler would be a thorn in the side of Kuroda tonight. In the third inning, Fowler would break a streak of six consecutive outs with a one-out triple. An error by Mark Teixeira would allow Fowler to come across for the second run of the game.
For all things considered, Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant and would go down as a hard-luck loser. In six innings, he allowed two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out five.
The Yankees would tease the chances of scoring on multiple occasions.
In the fifth inning, Brett Gardner and Brian Roberts would hit back-to-back singles with one out but two ground outs would squash the opportunity. In the sixth inning, Derek Jeter would begin the inning with a walk and with one out, Brian McCann would hit a single to right field that would let Jeter advance to third. Unfortunately, Mark Teixeira and Alfonso Soriano would be unsuccessful in another prime opportunity to score.
In the seventh inning the Yankees would bring in their first run but it came in on a double play by the debuting Yangervis Solarte. The Yankees also got their first (of many, probably) stolen base by Jacoby Ellsbury but it would go for naught when Derek Jeter struck out swinging to end the inning. A leadoff double by Carlos Beltran in the eighth inning gave the Yankees hope once again. A brilliant performance by Matt Albers followed as he struck out Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira and Alfonso Soriano, all swinging and stranding Beltran at second base.
As a team, the Yankees were hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Win – Jarred Cosart (1-0)
Loss – Hiroki Kuroda (0-1)
Save – Josh Fields (1)
Notables
Yankees
*Brian Roberts – 3 for 4
*Brett Gardner – 1 for 3, R
Astros
*Dexter Fowler – 2 for 4, 2 R, 3B, Solo Home Run (1) in the 1st, RBI (1)
*Matt Dominguez – 1 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (1) in the 7th, RBI (1)
Current Yankees Record – 0-2
