The Yankees Continued To Be A Problem For The Baltimore Birds, But Missed A Sweeping Opportunity At Yankee Stadium To Start The Season

  It was a long and grueling 11 innings at Yankees Stadium between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees in the finale of the three game set, but the birds stood their ground and did what they needed to do to avoid being swept in the Bronx cage.

  April 7th of 2021 marks the day that RHP Jameson Taillon returned back to a major league mound in a new uniform. He was tasked with closing out the series against the Baltimore Birds and considering that it was his return from a second reconstructive elbow procedure, wearing pinstripes for the first time, Taillon struck out seven without a walk over 4 2/3 innings and grinned  widely as he exchanged high-fives with his long time buddy Gerrit Cole in the dugout. By now, everyone knows that the two pitchers became good friends while in the Pirates' uniform. 

  Though Chance Sisco’s pinch-hit, 11th-inning single off of Chad Green proved to be the difference in a Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Orioles. All things considered, the night meant more to Taillon. At least the Yanks rebounded from their first series of the season and used the Baltimore Birds as a means of improving in the win column in preparation to face the pesky Tampa Bay Rays down in Florida.

  “I’m extremely grateful,” Taillon said. “....That game ran a little long and I had plenty of time to get my thoughts. It’s going to sound cheesy, but I’ll never take a day in a big league uniform for granted, that’s for sure. I was super happy to be out there; it felt really good to compete.”

  The 29-year-old righty started the game at an impressive rate, retiring the first nine batters he faced in his new pinstripe threads. Unfortunately, he then suffered being the victim of  solo fourth-inning homers that came off the bats of  Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander.

  Understandably so, Taillon was very upset with himself for those mistakes, but thankfully, they were the only mishaps of his first outing since May 1, 2019, for the Pirates.

   Yankees' catcher, Gary Sanchez said this of Taillon through an interpreter, 

  “It’s amazing that he looked so comfortable out there....It didn’t seem to be that it had been such a long time since the last time he pitched. He’s going to be good for us. He looks sharp and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to help us a lot this year.”

    It is worth noting that Taillon was acquired in a January trade with Pittsburgh, and the righty averaged 93.3 mph with his fastball in the 74-pitch effort, also showcasing his slider and curveball. Taillon had to revamp his mechanics in hopes of taking stress off his pitching elbow. He has also removed a two-seamer from his pitching arsenal in favor of throwing fastballs high in the strike zone, much like how his buddy Cole revamped his own arsenal since leaving the Pirates.

  Considering it has been a total of 707 days since Taillon has last pitched on a major league mound, Taillon said that a lot has changed for him. Going in depth, he said the following:

"I’m definitely going to be learning and adjusting to my new pitch mix and to the new division. It’s a different way of pitching, but I’m still getting some swings and misses on 93 and 94 [mph] now. When I threw 96, 97 mph sinkers, I’d get squared up.....”

 Taillon’s debut in pinstripes was actually also his first career appearance at Yankee Stadium as well, and he said that he anticipated there would be nerves in returning to the mound. On the bright side, he got a shot at working in front of a small cheering section of family and friends at the stadium. Taillon expressed gratitude for a second chance, following a dark period late in his Pittsburgh outing(s), during which he wondered if there would ever be another opportunity.

“I’m really grateful to have a second chance at this,” Taillon said. “...I’m really grateful that my elbow feels good. I wasn’t so sure a couple of years ago that I would ever be on this stage again.”

  Looking Ahead To The Tropicana Series

  It is a new season, can the Yankees edge out the Rays in the battle for the number one spot in the American League East ?

  We'll find out how the two teams will match up for the first time this season, as the first game of the young season between the ball-clubs will feature a lefty-vs-righty duel out on the mound.

  The Rays will send LHP Rich Hill to the mound to combat an almost clicking Yankees' lineup. Hill's 17th MLB season didn't get off to the start he wanted, as he was sent packing to the dugout's bench after four innings of work in a no-decision against the Marlins last Saturday. It is interesting to note that the 41-year-old, who has pitched 5 1/3 innings as a Yankee has not faced his former team since 2016.

  Yankees' manager Aaron Boone will combat the former Yankee with a righty on the mound at The Trop. Boone will tab Corey Kluber with the start to open up the series against the Rays. The righty is coming off a no-decision in his debut against the Blue Jays, where he held Toronto to two runs (one earned) and five hits over four-plus innings. Kluber ended up tossing 74 pitches, walking three and striking out five batters.