Oakland, CA -- It was a fresh start against a team that was unfamiliar to him. Not knowing what to expect the New York Yankees decided to take the high road and just play their game. They had a meeting prior to batting practice to discuss the new additions to the Oakland A's roster this season.
"I know nothing about him," Derek Jeter said. "I'm going to play my game and go from there."
The Yankees did just that when their offense exploded to defeated the A's 6-3. It turned into a slugfest by the third frame which resulted in three unearned runs. Robinson Cano hit a line drive directly to Coco Crisp in center field. But Crisp tipped the ball off his glove and Curtis Granderson scored. Mark Teixeira followed with a two-run homer to put New York up 3-0.
Tyson Ross lasted only 4 and two-thirds innings in his first start against the Yankees. He surrendered eleven hits including three home runs. Ross escaped the third after he loaded the bases before Alex Rodriguez grounded into a double play to end the inning.
"They're a good hitting team and they showed that tonight," said Tyson. "I felt like I was throwing the ball well early, and then I left some pitches up, and they made me pay for it."
The two home runs in the fifth ended Ross's night early. Cano blasted his sixth homer of the season and Nick Swisher's two-run shot was just too much to digest for the right-hander. Thanks to Oakland's defense things didn't get too out of hand. Teixeria doubled on a fly ball to left field and Seth Smith was just in time when he threw to third to get Mark out.
"It seemed like our at-bats, even the outs were a little tougher," manager Bob Melvin said. "They took the lead, then all of a sudden it's 3-0, we have to battle back against a team you know can put up some more runs, but I thought our approach was better tonight."
The A's responded with their leading hitter Josh Reddick blasting his 12th home run and put Oakland on the board. Kurt Suzuki's sacrifice fly added on another run in the sixth. Then designated hitter Kila Ka'aihue leadoff the seventh with a solo home run and that was the last of the A's offense. Unable to close the gap, the Yankees bullpen followed a solid night of pitching from Ivan Nova.
Nova lasted seven innings to earn his first victory in three starts. He allowed six hits three runs [all earned] one walk, seven strike outs and two home runs. Also in his first start against the A's he faired better than his opponent.
"I'm still [giving up] home runs, still making mistakes," Ivan explained. "But you know, I have to forget about that today. We won, I've got to enjoy the win and keep working hard and try to do better next time."