Fans Take In Make-Up Game At Yankee Stadium As Astros Spoil Postponed Opening Day
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Fans were back at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, a day after wintry weather postponed opening day.
On Tuesday morning, it looked like crews were preparing for a football game, clearing snow off the field and breaking up ice on the diamond.
Manager Joe Girardi said even though they came from sunny Florida in spring training, the players will deal, adding that some of the new guys played in the cold of Chicago and Minnesota, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.
"The difficulty is feeling the baseball and having a good grip on the baseball," Girardi said. "Just staying warm because your mind drifts a little bit probably at times cause you're trying to block out the cold."
Fans are also keeping a positive attitude.
"It's very cold and I think it's going to be a good day today for the Yankees," Dion Beckel of the Bronx told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond. "Everybody can tough it out and I think it'll be all well and good. I think they'll chalk it up as a win."
Fan Joe Blusk was prepared.
"It's very chilling, it's exciting, it's invigorating," he told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "Got my short johns on, long johns on, heavy socks -- we're ready for the game."
The Montasano brothers were both wearing their snow pants for the rescheduled home opener.
"I think it's colder than a football game," Mikey Montasano said.
"It's pretty cold out and we want to dress appropriately," his brother James said.
It was 40 degrees and drizzling when Monday's game between the Yankees and the Houston Astros was called, 4 1/2 hours before the scheduled first pitch for the afternoon start.
The postponement was a frustration for many fans, including some who had come prepared for any kind of weather.
"I had a poncho in here, I was ready to go," one fan said. "I had my waterproof jacket, but what are you going to do?"
"We bought the tickets online and now we're here, but we won't see a game today," said another.
Some had to change their plans to make it to the game Tuesday.
One man concealed his face because he called out sick from work and didn't want to get fired.
Some friends from Houston, Texas were determined to support the Astros in enemy territory.
"We changed up our flight, stayed a little later but we had to be here so we're happy to make it out," obne man said.
As CBS2's Steve Overmyer reported, the cold temperatures didn't effect Hideki Matsui. The 2009 World Series MVP and the man they called Godzilla threw a perfect strike for the ceremonial first pitch.
The pitching matchup Tuesday was the same. AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel started for Houston against Masahiro Tanaka of New York in a rematch of last year's AL wild-card game, won by the Astros 3-0.
"Last season is over and this is a new season so we're gonna do our best today," first baseman Mark Teixeira said before the game."This is one of best pitchers in baseball and we have a chance to get the season started with a good showing against him and if we can do that then hopefully it sets the tone for a great season."
The Yankees' new second baseman Starlin Castro came through in his first at bat with the bombers, hitting a 2 run double off of Keuchel.
The bullpen was a different story. Dellin Betances came into the game in the 8th inning with the score tied 2-2. By the time he left the Astros had a 5-2 lead.
There was more drama in the 8th as Joe Girardi thought a runner was out of the base path, causing a bad throw by Betances.
"If they don't change it they should bring more clarity to the rule, cause I don't want to go in and tell my pitchers just throw it and hit him in the back. I don't want to do that because you can get somebody hurt. Correa's way int he baseline. To me it's something that really needs to be addressed," Girardi said.
The Yankees played the rest of the game under protest, but it didn't change the outcome with the Astros spoiling opening day in the Bronx.
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