Unusually late in the season, the Yankees played their 1st game of the season against the Boston Red Sox.
Gerrit Cole started. The ace went in undefeated, as he had gotten enough run support to get him off the hook when he didn't pitch well. This time, he pitched reasonably well, going 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk, striking out 6.
But he didn't get the run support. Garrett Whitlock shut the Yankees down over the 1st 5 innings, until Josh Donaldson led off the bottom of the 6th with a home run. That closed it to within 2-1, but Albert Abreu gave up a home run in the 7th.
Gleyber Torres drew a bases-loaded walk in the 8th. With 2 out in the 9th, Billy McKinney and Torres singled. Anthony Volpe came to the plate. He hit a drive down the left field line, giving the fans hope that it might be a walkoff home run, but it hooked a few feet foul. He popped up on the next pitch. We can't say he didn't try.
Red Sox 3, Yankees 2. WP: Whitlock (3-2). SV: Kenley Jansen (14). LP: Cole (7-1). Hell of a time to lose his 1st, but he didn't get the support he needed.
The series continues tonight -- on Fox, so you might want to hit the mute button and listen to John & Suzyn. Domingo Germán starts against Tanner Houck.