The New York Yankees are sharing some love for their ace after he delivered a gem on opening day.
The Yankees kicked off the MLB season on Wednesday with a bi-coastal showdown with the San Francisco Giants. The Bronx Bombers handed the ball to ace Max Fried for the first start of the year and he delivered a 7-0 victory, earning some love from the team after the game.
Max Fried Pitches Gem in Yankees Opener
As ESPN noted, Fried had a historic performance on the opening night of the MLB season.
“Max Fried (1-0) allowed two hits in 6â innings to become just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6â shutout innings on Opening Day, joining Catfish Hunter (1977), Ron Guidry (1980), Rick Rhoden (1988) and David Cone (1996). New York won an opener with a shutout on the road for the first time since 1967,” the report noted.
After the game, the Yankees shared a picture of Fried holding a wrestling belt and flashing a smile.
“Game Belt Secured,” the team wrote in a post on X.
Fried’s performance and the lively bats helped make up for a shaky start for star Aaron Judge, who struck out four times while being booed each time by the San Francisco crowd. Judge considered signing with the Giants when he hit free agency in 2022, but ultimately returned to the Yankees.
Judge is coming off an MVP season, but struggled at the plate in the opener.
Max Fried Settled After Early Trouble
Fried got off to a shaky start, issuing a four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Luis Arraez to start the game, but settled in and got some early run support. The team’s ace hinted earlier this month that it might be difficult getting adjusted after an odd spring that included a spirited World Baseball Classic that was taxing on many major leaguers.
âIâm definitely looking forward, knowing that the beginning of the season is quick,â Fried said. âIt feels a little weird because weâve got a bunch of guys still going in the [World Baseball] Classic and being able to watch that. Weâre just doing what we need to do every day to get ready for Game 1.â
Fried was also coming off a shaky performance in his final spring training start, but said the adversity was a good way to prepare him for the regular season and work on making in-game adjustments.
âDefinitely not sharp, but also the perfect amount of being able to make that adjustment,â said Fried, via SNY.
Fried said at the time that he was still in spring training mode and would be ready when the season started.
âI would rather, in this situation, have a little bit more traffic on the bases, taking the chances,â Fried said. âSomething maybe I would not do during the regular season to push those boundaries and get feedback in a not completely results-based game.â
Fried’s prediction came true, with the Yankees ace turning in a stellar performance in his first Opening Day start since landing an eight-year, $218 million contract with the team last year.
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