NEW YORK – Austin Wells became the first catcher to hit a leadoff homer on opening day, Anthony Volpe also went deep and the New York Yankees began their AL pennant defense by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday.
Carlos Rodón (1-0), starting because of ace Gerrit Cole's season-ending elbow injury, allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Rodón got 13 swing and misses, including nine on sliders.
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Devin Williams, an All-Star closer acquired from Milwaukee in December, loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth on two hits and a walk. He gave up Brice Turang's sacrifice fly, then struck out Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich for the save.
Chourio fanned five times, two more than his previous high.
Wells put the Yankees ahead when he sent a 2-0 fastball into the right-field short porch against Freddy Peralta (0-1) — it would not have been out of any other big league ballpark.
Volpe homered in the second, Aaron Judge added an RBI double off third base in the seventh and Cody Bellinger followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 4-1 in his Yankees debut.
Vinny Capra hit his first big league homer in the third for Milwaukee.
New York's lineup included just four starters from World Series Game 5: Judge, Wells, Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Cole appeared for pregame introductions, his right arm in a sling following Tommy John surgery on March 11.
A moment of silence was held for Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, who died Friday.
Milwaukee wore a patch on the left sleeve honoring broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died Jan. 16 at age 90.
Key moment
Brewers rookie Isaac Collins pinch hit with the bases loaded in the sixth and in a nine-pitch at-bat grounded into an inning-ending forceout against Tim Hill.
Key stat
New York hadn’t had a catcher hit leadoff in 19,451 games — 19,014 in the regular season and 437 in the postseason — according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Up next
LHP Max Fried makes his Yankees debut Saturday and Nestor Cortes his Brewers debut in his return to New York. Cortes dyed his hair blond on Wednesday.
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