CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 7: Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on July 7, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Didi Gregorius helped the New York Yankees secure an 11-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in their home opener on Tuesday with eight RBIs, including two three-run homers and a two-run single.
The 28-year-old shortstop’s runs set a one-game franchise record for his position and for the new Yankee Stadium, as well as a personal best. Gregorius helped give the Yankees their most prolific one-man offensive performance (with respect to RBIs) since Alex Rodriguez scored 10 homers against the Los Angeles Angels in April 2005.
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“I think everybody wants to be the guy,” said Gregorius, who was also great on defense on Tuesday.
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The Yankees were supposed to play their first game in the Bronx this season on Monday, but the contest was postponed due to snow. There was also a delay due to rain on Tuesday.
Giancarlo Stanton also set a career high with five strikeouts. First-year Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulled starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery after five innings and 80 pitches.
“We’ve seen a really good player continue to get better and better each year,” Boone said of Gregorius. “… He’s a guy you like seeing come up in big spots and with runners on base and he came through in a big way tonight.”
Gregorius said he knows how much fans expect from players, especially when they replace a legend like Derek Jeter, whom Gregorius stepped in to succeed after Jeter retired in 2015.
“Fans are always going to boo you, and the reason why they boo you is they want you to do good,” the Dutch-born Gregorius said. “It’s not because they hate you. That’s what I learned. The only way to get better is to keep putting in more work.”
The Yankees blew a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning but then recovered to secure the big win. The team hosts the Rays again on Wednesday at 1:05pm EST. Luis Severino (1-0) will start for New York against Blake Snell.
After that, the Bombers begin a four-game home series against the Baltimore Orioles.
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