New York Wins Season Opener Over Baltimore
The New York team located in the Bronx got their season off to a winning start on Opening Day while Luke Voit got his season off to a hot start.
Voit awed his teammates with the Yanks' first home run of 2019, a three-run blast that helped power a 7-2 Opening Day victory over the Orioles on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
"It's unbelievable," Voit said. "Who would have thought I'd be here for Opening Day? I always thought I'd do it in a Cardinals uniform. I ended up being hurt last year, and I missed opportunities to get called up in St. Louis. To have that first Opening Day and hit a home run Opening Day is pretty special. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
The first-inning blast on a spinning slider from Baltimore starter Andrew Cashner represented a continuation of last season's exploits for the 28-year-old Voit, who helped the Yankees secure a postseason berth by mashing 14 home runs in 39 games following his late-July acquisition from St. Louis for pitchers Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
Including Thursday, Voit has homered in a career-best four consecutive games and seven of his last 12. Installed as the Yanks' designated hitter and No. 4 batter by manager Aaron Boone, Voit remarked that he swung the bat only twice, having worked a pair of walks around a hit-by-pitch from Mike Wright Jr.'s fifth-inning fastball, which struck Voit’s left elbow and forced home New York's fifth run. “according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
"What a day; great at-bats," Boone said. "I've talked with him all the time [about] how well he controls the strike zone and hits the ball with authority the other way. Today, [he hit the homer to] center field to get us off and running, then his at-bats continued to be what I love. You can get a little greedy there. Opening Day, three-run homer in in the books, runners on base. He never left his zone, never got out of himself." “according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
That bright approach comes as no surprise to Judge, who has been singing Voit's praises for months. When the Yankees celebrated after advancing to postseason play last September, Judge wrapped a beefy biceps around the first baseman's neck and proclaimed: "We wouldn't be in this position right now if it wasn't for you." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
"I see how hard he works," Judge said. “I see him in the weight room, and I see him coming in early to take swings. He prepares the right way. When you see that kind of a guy off the field and in the cages and in the weight room, you know he's going to go out there and perform on the field. That's just Louis V." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
That bright approach comes as no surprise to Judge, who has been singing Voit's praises for months. When the Yankees celebrated after advancing to postseason play last September, Judge wrapped a beefy biceps around the first baseman's neck and proclaimed: "We wouldn't be in this position right now if it wasn't for you." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
"I see how hard he works," Judge said. “I see him in the weight room, and I see him coming in early to take swings. He prepares the right way. When you see that kind of a guy off the field and in the cages and in the weight room, you know he's going to go out there and perform on the field. That's just Louis V." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-orioles-opening-day
With the win, New York improves to 1-0 and is in first place in the American League East while Baltimore drops to 0-1 on the season.
After an off day on Friday New York will return to the diamond for their second game of the three game series against Baltimore on Saturday afternoon.