Tigers 8, Yankees 3. [Boxscore]
Summary: Fielder roars, Smyly nails the coffin shut on a gorgeous opening-day win.
Pitching: Fister was a bit wild today as he went 5 innings, surrendering 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters, one of which (Nunez) left the game in extreme pain.
Replay showed a ball directly to the chest area, probably sternum. Hopefully, it's only a bruise and not something broken. For a few minutes there, I thought he might have to be carted off the field on a stretcher, he was in so much pain. Scary moment.
(
Edit:
According to ESPN, he has been diagnosed with a bruised right bicep. Precautionary x-rays were negative. Whew. <
/edit> )
Smyly, on the other hand, was gorgeous! He went 4 innings, not permitting a single baserunner, striking out 5 to earn the save. It was pitching at its best.
Offense: Prince Fielder put on quite the display today, going 2-5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI. The first one was a
3-run laser blast (video) to RF (incidentally the Tigers first HR of the season) and a
2-run shot to Right (video) later on.
Avila also
added a solo blast (video), Dirks added a SB, and Miggy and Infante both got ribbies.
It was a supremely satisfying opening day victory.
Next game: Saturday, Yanks @ Tigers, 4:05 Eastern. TV: Fox.