New York Yankees Take First Series of the Season

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

The New York Yankees defeated the Houston Astros 8-5 on Thursday afternoon to win their first series of 2016.

In the series, the Bronx Bombers were alive and well, hitting seven home runs over the three games including two off the bat of newcomer Starlin Castro.

Castro hit .583 driving in eight runs in his debut series in Pinstripes. The eight runs driven in is the second most by a Yankee in their first three games behind Babe Ruth who drove in 9 in his first three games.

To Castro’s right is shortstop Didi Gregorius. Gregorius hit .455 in the series with a home run.

Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira also hit two home runs including a three-run shot on Thursday afternoon giving the Yankees an 8-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Masahiro Tanaka looked sharp through five innings in his opening day start giving up two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Michael Pineda and Nathan Evoldi both struggled in their opening starts, but the Yankees were able to pick them up with offensive steam. Pineda gave up eight hits, three homers and six earned runs in just five innings. Evoldi also went five innings giving up five runs on six hits while allowing two roundtrips.

The Yankees had trouble with reigning AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa as he hit .385 with three home runs including one off the Mohegan Sun Sports bar in centerfield.

Alex Rodriguez also got his first two hit of the season on Thursday after starting the season 0-for-8

The Yankees all in all looked good in the opening series against the Astros.

The team will travel to Detroit for their first road series of the season against the Tigers. On Friday, it will be Luis Severino against Jordan Zimmerman. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.