The Yankees’ bench faltered during their first test of the season today. Manager Joe Girardi opted to rest veterans Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, and Brian McCann, replacing them in the lineup with Dustin Ackley, Aaron Hicks, and Austin Romine. That trio went 0-9 in today’s 4-0 loss, and the result was a very different offense than the one that scored 24 runs in the last two days against the Astros.
All winter, Girardi and Brian Cashman emphasized the fact that the Yankees’ key veterans would receive ample rest this season in order to prevent a repeat of the second half slump that caused the team to drop 13 games in the standings between July 28 and the end of the season. With Rodriguez, Teixeira, and Beltran expected to need multiple days off each week to stay fresh, the onus will be on the versatile Hicks and Ackley especially to step up and fill the void when New York’s middle of the order sluggers aren’t in the lineup.
The Play: Miggy lines an RBI single to put the Tigers on the board (-0.84 WPA)
After Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler led off the game with a double, 22 year old Luis Severino came face to face with perhaps the toughest hitter in the game, Miguel Cabrera. The two-time MVP fouled off four pitches before effortlessly lacing a hanging slider into right field for an RBI single.
Top Performers
Tigers — Miguel Cabrera (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI)
Yankees — Johnny Barbato (1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K)
Notes
– Luis Cessa made his major league debut and allowed a solo homer to Cabrera in the seventh inning. A fitting welcome to the major leagues from the vet. Cessa also struck out Justin Upton and Victor Martinez before getting the other Martinez to fly out to right.
– Both major pieces in last December’s trade between the Tigers and Yankees made an appearance in this game, as Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless eighth for Detroit, striking out two.
– Man does Severino have a great fastball. He was throwing it past guys all day, but missed badly in the zone with his slider several times. It seemed like that was the reason for most of the hits he allowed. As with Pineda on Wednesday, he may have had trouble locating the pitch because of the cold. I’d be willing to bet things will look better once the weather warms up.
– Johnny Barbato came in and stranded two of Severino’s inherited runners. He gave up a single to Jose Iglesias, but then worked out of a bases loaded jam to finish a scoreless sixth inning. Another impressive appearance for the rookie.
– Both Romine brothers played in today’s game. According to the Baseball Almanac, over 350 sets of brothers have appeared in the major leagues.
The Highlight: Aaron Hicks’ diving catch in right
Aaron Hicks had two impressive diving catches on the day. The first came in the third to rob Miguel Cabrera of extra bases, and the second was a sliding grab of a bloop by JD Martinez to end the seventh. He already looks like a difference-maker in the Yankees’ outfield.
Next Up:
CC Sabathia will take the hill for the Yankees in the second game of the series. The Tigers attack is heavily right-handed, and the big lefty allowed a .300 TAv against righty batters last season. By comparison, his TAv against left handed batterswas .186. That is definitely a significant platoon split. So…this could be an ugly one.
The game is scheduled for 1:10 pm ET and will be broadcast by YES and available on MLB.TV
Lead photo: Rick Osentoski /USA TODAY Sports