Yankees Edge Out Red Sox After Ugly Start

 YANKEES 6 - RED SOX 5 - 11 Innings 

It wasn't pretty, in fact it was down right ugly for most of the day, but the Yankees came away with a 6-5 win over Boston in extras to open the season. 

Josh Donaldson who was acquired along with Isiah-Kiner Falefa from Minnesota for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela, turned out to be the hero, lining the game-winning single up the middle in the bottom of the 11th inning to drive in Kiner-Falefa with the deciding run.

Donaldson finished 2-of-6 in his first game as a Yankee, capping off what was a bizarre day at the stadium. 

How bizarre? Well it started with Gerrit Cole yelling at Billy Cyrstal to hurry up with the ceremonial first pitch because it threw him off his timing. If you want to believe that. 

The result? Cole served up a two-run homer to Rafael Devers, and a RBI double to J.D. Martinez to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. 

Cole, who struggled after getting caught with Spider Tack last season, finished his uneven day giving up three runs over four innings. The questions about his ability to lead this staff on a consistent basis will only continue, especially against a team like Boston. 

Meanwhile, the Yankees stormed back the only way they know how: the long ball. 

Anthony Rizzo's two-run bomb in the bottom of the first got the party started for New York. Giancarlo Stanton later tied the game at three on a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth.  

After Boston took the lead right back on Alex Verdugo's RBI single, the Yankees again relied on the long ball to tie the game, this time from D.J. LeMahieu, who crushed a pitch to right center in the sixth inning. The homer had to feel especially good for LeMahieu who struggled for most of the season last year as he battled a herniated disc injury.

Give a lot of credit to the Yankees bullpen for this one. After Cole's struggles, the Yankees had to rely on seven different relievers to shut down the Red Sox. Aside from Clay Holmes giving up a run on three hits in the sixth inning, the bullpen was fantastic in blanking the Red Sox and forcing extra innings. 

 The Yankees (1-0) will try to do it again on Saturday afternoon behind Luis Severino.

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