Koji Uehara Beats the Yankees in Debut
April 8, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Feats and Accomplishments, News
In the offseason, the Baltimore Orioles signed Koji Uehara to a two-year, $10 million deal. After one start, it looks like the Orioles got a bargain. The 34-year-old Japanese born Uehara pitched five impressive innings as he helped the Orioles knock off the New York Yankees for the second straight game to begin the 2009 baseball season.
Koji Uehara, Baltimore Orioles (Image: Newscom)
In his five innings of work, Uehara scattered five hits and allowed only one earned run. Although the Yankees made a push after Uehara had left the game, Baltimore was able to escape with a 7-5 victory.
Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang wasn’t nearly as impressive. The native of Taiwan gave up nine hits and seven earned runs in only 3.2 innings of work. Last season, Wang was 19-7 with a 3.70 ERA.
The big bopper at the plate for the Orioles was Nick Markakis. The third hitter in the Orioles’ lineup was 3-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs and a walk. His two-run homer in the first inning got Baltimore off on the right foot and gave the team a lead they would never relinquish.
For the Yankees, $180 million dollar man Mark Teixeira continues to struggle. After two games, Teixeira is now 1-for-9 with eight runners left on base.
The Orioles and Yankees play again on Thursday at 1:35 PM EST.
