SAN FRANCISCO – The Yankees heard all winter that they were “running it back,” as though that constituted a flaw. They preferred to view it as a strength. After all, this lineup led the Majors in runs scored last year, with real reasons to believe their starting pitching is primed to improve.
Cast in a starring role for Major League Baseball’s streaming opener, the Yankees looked every bit ready for prime time. Their offense came at the Giants in waves, building an early lead that allowed Max Fried to cruise in a 7-0 victory on Opening Night at Oracle Park.
Trent Grisham’s two-run triple highlighted a five-run second inning as the Yankees pounced on right-hander Logan Webb. Ryan McMahon added a two-run single in the frame as the Bombers secured their fifth consecutive Opening Day win.
José Caballero, Giancarlo Stanton and Jazz Chisholm Jr. also drove in runs facing Webb, who surrendered seven runs (six earned) over five innings.
Fried filled the role of Yankees ace last season, but because of the timing of Gerrit Cole’s injury, he did not receive the honor of an Opening Day start.
That changed this year, and Fried got things rolling after an erratic first inning that began with a four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Luis Arraez.
The run support helped Fried settle in, beginning his second season in New York on a strong note. Fried blanked San Francisco over 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander permitted two hits and a walk, striking out four.
Aaron Judge struck out in his first four at-bats, becoming the first reigning Most Valuable Player to fan four times in his team’s first game of a season.
The game also featured the first use of the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system in a Major League contest. Caballero tapped his helmet to challenge a fourth-inning called strike from Webb, which was confirmed.