Yanks Take '14 Home Opener over Birds, 4-2; Kuroda Gets W, Kelly Saves

 
GAME 7 : It opened with the Core Four throwing out ceremonial pitches and ended with Shawn Kelly‘s first career save. In between, Hiroki Kuroda turned in another solid start, scattering 8 hits over 6 1/3, striking out 4, and walking none while holding the Orioles to 2 runs. Matt Thornton and David Phelps got the job done, Adam Warren had a dominant 8th, and Kelly took it from there. After the game, Michael Kay reported that closer David Robinson was placed on the DL with a groin strain.
Derek Jeter usually finds a way to make special days at The Stadium a bit more memorable, and almost did it again today. In the 5th, he blasted what looked like a dramatic HR, but it fell a couple of feet short, hitting high off the left field fence. Baltimore left fielder David Lough played the carom perfectly and almost nailed The Captain at second, who turned on the jets after a slight home run trot coming out of the box.
AT THE PLATE : Jacoby Ellsbury and Alfonso Soriano led the way with 2 hits apiece. Kelly Johnson walked twice, once with the bases loaded (and did well at first with the glove), and drilled a shot that probably would have left the yard in warmer weather. Yangervis Solarte also made a loud out in the 8th, in what looked like a moonshot off the bat, but easily snagged by O’s right fielder Nick Markakis before the warning track.
Here’s the box score. And wraps up from Chad Jennings (LoHud) and Eduardo A. Encina (Baltimore Sun).
NEXT UP : It’s Ivan Nova‘s turn tomorrow, matching up with Wei-Lin Chen in another afternoon tilt at The Stadium. 1:00PM EST, 10:00AM PT.