It's Not Easy Being Greene, But It Was Fun Last Night

With 1/3rd of a major league inning to his credit before last night, Shane Greene, a 25-year-old righthander from Central Florida, wearing Number 61, took the mound for the Yankees in the opener of a 3-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs... rather, Progressive Field.

All we wanted out of him was to pitch well enough to give our bats a chance to win.

Of course, at the rate our bats have been going, he might have needed to pitch a no-hitter.

And, for a while, he did. He got into the 5th inning without allowing a hit. It was former Yankee Nick Swisher who broke it up, sending an opposite-field (lefty-hitting, left-center-field) drive out.

Thankfully, that made the score 5-1 in the Yankees' favor. We didn't need the great pitching. Still glad we got it, though.

Overall, Greene pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits... and no walks. I love that. David Huff pitched the 7th and allowed a run, while All-Star-in-waiting Dellin Betances pitched the 8th and the 9th.

The Yankees runs came in the 2nd and 3rd. In the 2nd, back-to-back doubles by the Brians, McCann and Roberts, led to the 1st run. Ichiro Suzuki singled Roberts over to 3rd, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. Justin Masterson (4-6) loaded the bases by walking Kelly Johnson and hitting Francisco Cervelli with a pitch. Brett Gardner singled home Roberts, bases still loaded. Derek Jeter drew a walk to force home Johnson.

Mark Teixeira led off the 3rd with a walk, and McCann singled. Roberts flew out, but Ichiro singled home Teix. McCann was balked over to 3rd. Johnson was hit by a pitch. Cervelli grounded into a force play that got McCann home.

Yankees 5, Indians 3. Greene got his 1st major league win, Betances his 1st major league save.

The series continues tonight. If you're an Indians fan, you shouldn't get your hopes up: Masahiro Tanaka is on the mound. Who's pitching for the Indians? (No, Who is not pitching, Who... ) I'll break your arm if you say, "Who's on 1st!" It doesn't matter who's pitching for the Indians: The Yankees are going to win this game.