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SPORTS Monday 3 april 2017
Archer outpitches Tanaka, Rays top Yankees 7-3

BY FRED GOODALL them to know when stuff Dickerson, who hit 24 home
AP SPORTS WRITER gets hairy, you need to runs last year, was 1 for 5 in
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- strap it on and go right af- his debut as Tampa Bay’s
Pitch by pitch, Chris Archer ter them. We don’t need to leadoff hitter against right-
set the tone for what he be bailed out, we need to handed pitching. Cash is
and the Tampa Bay Rays get out of the inning.” considering moving right-
hope will be a bounce- There were three games handed batting Steven
back year. around in the majors on the Souza Jr. to the top of the
Not such a good start for first day, and the Rays got order against left-handers,
Masahiro Tanaka and the off to a quick start. beginning Tuesday against
New York Yankees. Leadoff man Corey Dick- CC Sabathia.
Archer pitched seven sol- erson singled in the Tampa TRAINER’S ROOM
id innings, and the Rays Bay first for the first hit of the Yankees: SS Didi Gregorius
roughed up Tanaka on the season and later scored on (right shoulder strain) ex-
way to beating New York Longoria’s sacrifice fly as pects to start limited base-
7-3 in the first game of the part of a three-run inning. ball activities the middle
new Major League Base- Longoria connected for of this week. He is out until
ball season Sunday. a two-run drive in the sec- some time in May. ... INF-
“We didn’t play perfect, ond. OF Tyler Austin (broken left Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer throws the first
pitch of the season during the first inning of a baseball game
but we played well enough Aaron Judge had a RBI ankle) was placed on the against the New York Yankees, Sunday, April 2, 2017, in St. Pe-
to win,” Archer said. “We double, while Starlin Castro 60-day disabled list. tersburg, Fla
scored a lot of runs and and Chase Headley each Rays: Longoria, who sat out Associated Press
made some nice defensive had three hits for the Yan- Tampa Bay’s final spring
plays. It’s all about winning, kees. training game due to a start on opening day. ... Rasmus and SS Matt Duffy,
and we did that.” Tanaka (0-1) made his third stiff neck, made his club- Seven players, including begin the season on the
And what the Rays didn’t consecutive opening day record ninth consecutive C Wilson Ramos, OF Colby disabled list.
do a lot of last season, start for the Yankees, and
when they sank to the bot- had been 6-0 with a 2.82
tom of the AL East with their ERA in eight career starts
worst finish (68-94) since against Tampa Bay. He
2007. gave up eight hits and two
New York lost on open- walks.
ing day for the sixth con- Longoria connected for his
secutive year, with Tanaka fourth homer on opening
matching the shortest start day. Morrison, who didn’t
ever by a Yankees pitcher drive in a run until May 17
in an opener. last season, added a solo
“It happens. He’s human,” drive in the third.
Yankees pitching coach “Obviously, you just have
Larry Rothschild said. “He to accept it. I can’t take it
just didn’t command any- back,” Tanaka said through
thing. ... He usually self cor- a translator. “So, the main
rects real well. But today, thing is, I really need to
he tried a few things and it move forward from today.
just didn’t work.” Make the necessary adjust-
Evan Longoria and Logan ments.”
Morrison homered and UNCHARACTERISTIC
drove in three runs apiece Tanaka, who tied Hideo
before a sellout crowd of Nomo for the most opening
31,042 at Tropicana Field. day starts by a Japanese-
Tanaka, who had base- born pitcher, had a sev-
ball’s lowest ERA in spring en-game winning streak
training, was tagged for a stopped. He went 7-0 with
career-worst seven earned a 2.28 ERA over his final
runs in 2 2/3 innings. nine starts of last season. ...
A first-time All-Star in 2015 Tanaka had won all three
who lost an AL-leading 19 of his previous career starts
times last season, Archer at Tropicana Field, limiting
(1-0) limited New York to the Rays to four earned
two runs and seven hits. He runs in 20 innings for a 1.80
narrowly escaped a bases- ERA. He led the AL with a
loaded jam in the seventh 2.36 road ERA in 2016, trail-
to turn a five-run lead over ing only the Mets’ Noah
to a revamped bullpen. Syndergaard (2.29) for the
Rays manager Kevin Cash major league lead.
said it was important to It was the second-shortest
give his ace an opportunity start of Tanka’s career. He
to get through the seventh. tied the Yankees shortest
“I’m really happy he did, on opening day, joining
not only for my sake but Ron Guidry (1983) and Mel
the other guys on the staff, Stottlemyre (1973).
too,” Archer said. “ I want LEADING OFF