Yankees Avoid Opening Series Sweep

The Yankees started out the season by losing two games to the Boston Red Sox. The depleted Yankee lineup looked weak against Boston's new look team. Could two Yankee old timers help the bombers win their first game?

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The Yankees needed some kind of spark to ignite their collection of old timer talent. New York had dropped the first two games at home against the rival Boston Red Sox. It took a classic Yankee performance from a classic Yankee to finally spark this collection of spare parts. Andy Pettitte, making his first April start since 2010, was just what the doctor ordered for New York. Pettitte looked strong pitching 8 innings of one run baseball while striking out 3 Red Sox. Mariano Rivera came in for first save of the season in the 9th inning. Rivera did give up a one but helped the Yankees avoid getting swept by Boston with a 4-2 victory.

Lyle Overbay made the Red Sox pay for letting him go with a two run single in the second off of newly acquired starter Ryan Dempster. Brett Gardner and catcher Francisco Cervelli hit solo home runs to give New York its third and fourth runs. Despite the first victory of the season, the Yankees do not have a lot to feel good about. Most of their overpaid players are rotting on the D.L. The Yankees travel to Detroit to take on the defending A.L. champion Tigers on Friday. Ivan Nova hopes to feed of off Pettitte's momentum as he gets the start against Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and the Tiger's on Friday. New York would love to exact some revenge on the Tigers, who knocked the Yankees out of the playoffs last year 4-1 in the A.L. championship series.

-Joe Passarelli