1-0 and 0-1

In a battle of the BP's - the Yankees out slugged the Devil Rays come opening day in the Bronx. Carl Pavano pitched ok but was hindered by three errors in the early innings before the Rays started to get to him in the fifth. Not a stellar outing by any means but it wasn't half as good as what his 4.1 inning outing looks like stats wise.

Brian Bruney, Sean Henn, Luis Vizciano (1-0), Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera combined to keep the Rays off the scoreboard for the final 4.2 innings - with Mo striking out all three men he faced. Every year you get those who state that Mariano isn't the best in the game, this year everyone is slurping at Joe Nathan's feet, before that it was Eric Gagne, but year in, year out, this guy pitches just amazing.

Offensively the Yankees scored nine runs and spread it out. Giambi brought from three, Jeter a couple as did A-Rod. The other runs came thanks to Bobby Abreu and a Jorge Posada shot the other way - the first Yankee HR of 2007.

A-Rod was booed early but got a curtain call late after hitting a two-run shot, but it was his SB that was his big moment. After getting on with a lazer shot past the Rays SS, A-Rod took off on the 0-1 pitch and in a bang-bang play at second was called safe. He came around to score on the next pitch as Giambi laced another single through the shift.

A good start for the Bombers all in all.

Oh and Schilling looked awful against the Royals, sadly though it is just one game and I doubt many would call Carlos Zambrano or Chris Carpenter done after their less than stellar opening outings.