Yastrzemski is a last name that evokes a lot of vitriol in Yankees history – but it’s now a part of some good Yankees opening day lore.
Gerrit Cole’s strikeout of Mike Yastrzemski – Carl’s grandson – in the fourth inning of Thursday’s game vs. the Giants was Cole’s 10th of the day, setting a new Yankees Opening Day record:
No. 10 broke the record held by Tim Leary, who had nine on Opening Day 1991 against the Tigers, and continued a day where Cole had the K train going early. He recorded seven straight outs via strikeout to start the game, and after a ground out broke that streak, he fanned Michael Conforto to end the third with eight.
Cole then struck out Joc Pederson to tie the record in the fourth, and Yastrzemski became history one batter later. Cole then got six straight outs spanning the fourth through sixth without a K, but finished the sixth and his day with his 11th strikeout, getting Pederson swinging to give the Giants' DH the hat trick.
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