Newcomers provide welcome signs for Yankees

The New York Yankees hoped to leave memories of a disastrous 2023 season in the past, but after four innings of Thursday's Opening Day game at Houston, their fans might have thought, "Here we go again."

Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. got tagged for four earned runs before recording four outs, while the offense squandered multiple scoring chances by grounding into three double plays.

But thanks to solid at-bats and superb outfield defense — qualities the team didn't have in abundance last season — the Yankees scored five unanswered runs en route to a 5-4 win.

The quality at-bats began early and continued throughout the game, with Astros starter Framber Valdez surrendering six walks in 4 2/3 innings and the staff combining to give nine free passes.

Notably patient were shortstop Anthony Volpe and marquee offseason acquisition outfielder Juan Soto, who drew five of those walks and saw 50 pitches between them.

Soto's fellow outfield newcomer, Alex Verdugo, also got involved at the plate, flaring a single to left field in his first at-bat and driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly. 

Just as important as the offensive contributions from Soto and Verdugo was their play in the outfield. Verdugo chased down a fly ball in the gap that would have almost certainly scored Jose Altuve and tied the score.