The Tank shook off jet lag from the brief weekend Vegas trip and got to the Stadium in time for the end of Roll Call. It was tough not seeing Bernie Williams not in centerfielder or anywhere to be found.
Cory Lidle's widow and son threw out the first pitches. R.I.P. Cory.
New friend Jesse joins the Tank for his first game at the Stadium. Jesse caught a couple of Yankees games at Colorado and Arizona.
Only one runner gets on against Carl Pavano thank God. The Tank's expectations for Pavano are pretty low coming into the season as Pavano's injuries are well documented.
Early game action is pictured below.
Damon gets on. Jeter is out. Bobby "El Come Dulce (Just Like Sugar)" Abreu singles. A-Rod is met with cheers when he walked to the plate and then boos when he strikes out. Giambino singles home Damon and Abreu. Yankees are winning 2-0.
Posada flies out to short right field for the first out.
Matsui works a walk.
Kazmir threw about 35 pitches in the first inning. Don't feel so bad Linda and Steve that the Mets traded him. OK, I tried.
PermaGuest Outlaw Jack and the Tank are texting each other.
After the error, Upton gets the RBI. Yankees still lead 2-1.
Medford Bob calls to bust A-Rod's chops. You'll be hearing more from Medford Bob soon. 
Cano starts the second and is caught looking. Phelps works out a walk. Damon pops up. Jeter is hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count. Abreu grounds out to third. Yankees still lead 2-1.
A-Rod throws out Wigginton to end the third inning. Pavano "only" thrown 50 pitches.
In between innings, the Yankees welcome the U.S. Secret Service. Thanks for protecting the President and us (as they oversee the Treasury Department)! Former player and broadcaster Bobby Murcer gets a standing ovation. Bobby is bald from his cancer treatments. According to WCBS 880 AM Radio later in the game, Bobby said that he is being treating for the Phase 2 vaccine for the mutant gene that caused the cancer. Get better soon Bobby.
A-Rod grounds out to short. Giambino grounds out. Matsui comes up to the "Bonzana" song. The Tank asks where is Hoss. Brian asks where is Little Joe. Matsui grounds out.
The Yankees turn two to end the D-Rays half of the fourth.
PermaGuest Outlaw Jack reports a Don Zimmer sighting. He is sporting his World Series ring.
"Hip Hip Jorge" Posada hits a lead off home run to the right field bleachers. The Yankees lead 3-1.
Cano flies out to left field.
Phelps works out a walk. Damon works out a walk. Kazmir is up to 78 pitches and is not even out of the 4th inning. Jeter is called out on a questionable call below the knees. Abreu grounds out.
Through four innings, the Yankees lead 3-1.
Home run to the black in right center field for Dukes. The Yanks still lead 3-2. Upton singles. The Yankee bullpen starts in front of us. Crawford gets the RBI. Zobrist is called out on the bunt attempt as it bounced on his knee. What a lucky break for the Yankees. Crawford is almost tagged out at second by Cano.
"How good are the Indians?". Karl with the Mariano jersey asks. The Tank responds good. CC Sabathia should anchor that rotation.
Phelps is charged for the error.
Baldelli singles home Crawford. That is it for Carl Pavano. He leaves to boos and a jeer by Brian's buddy who says "Go back to Alyssa Milano". Two of the runs were unearned.
Brian Bruney relieves Carl Pavano. Ty Wigginton at bat as Baldelli steals second. Rookie of the Year candidate Delmond Young singles home Baldelli. The D-Rays lead 5-3. Darn it!
A-Rod flies out to right. Giambino grounds out to Kazmir. Matsui strikes out. The Yankees are still down 5-3.
Melky Cabrera is in the game for Johnny Damon who cramped up in both his calves. Sean Henn is in as he beat out Ron Villone for a reliever job. Iwamura singles to left. Navarro grounds out into a double play. Dukes flies out to Abreu.
Shawn Camp is up in the D-Rays bullpen in front of us. Karl's cousin advises him not to get married. Posada singles to left. Robinson "Don't You Know?" Cano singles to right.
Kazmir is up to 107 pitches and is pulled after 5+ innings.
Mientiewicz's bunt advances the runners to first and third.
Cabrera is hit by a pitch. The bases are loaded with the Captain Derek Jeter coming up to the plate. The crowd rises out of their seats and chant his name loudly. Jeter works the count to 3-1 and singles home Posada. The Yankees are down 5-4.
D-Rays manager Joe Madden goes to the bullpen again and brings in Stokes.
The Ducks are on the Pond again for Abreu. Abreu flies out to center, Cano tags third and goes home to tie the game at 5, and Cabrera falls down and it tagged out at second.
At the end of 6, the game is tied at 5.
Luis Vizcaino is pitching as Doug Mankiewicz sp goes to first.
Upton flies out. Crawford flies out. Zobrist flies out. 4 pitches, 3 out. 5-5 at the 7th Inning Stretch. "God Bless America!" Indeed!
A-Rod lines a shot through the shortstop to left. Farnsworth is warming up in the bullpen.
Giambino is up as A-Rod steals second. Giambino singles A-Rod home and the Yankees take a 6-5 lead thank God!
Matsui flies out to left.
Ruddy Lugo is warming up in the D-Rays bullpen.
Posada flies out to right as Giambino gets back to first. Cano flies out to right.
A self confessed crack dealer named Chico (AKA "CHICO THE CRACK DEALER" as he prefers to be addressed -- he is almost as pretentious as Her Majesty, The Italian Princess of Power), his cousin Karl and his "fiancée" Jamie.
Sean, Caroline, and her "Dad" sit behind me. Chico is vain and wants to be in as many photos as possible.
"Cotton Eye Joe" blares over the speakers before the bottom of the 8th.
Doug Mientiewicz gets an infield single to start the bottom of the 8th. Cabrera grounds out to advance Mientiewicz to second. Jeter comes to bat and the D-Rays goes to the bullpen.
Jack texts the Tank and says that his childhood priest told him that God Is A Yankees Fan. Very profound, especially during Holy Week. Happy Easter to all our Christian readers and Happy Passover to our Jewish readers. Happy Holidays to all regardless of what faith you observe.
Juan Salas comes in to pitch to Jeter as Mariano warms in the Yankee bullpen. Jeter grounds out.
Abreu singles Mientiewicz home and advances to second on Crawford's throw home. The Yankees lead 7-5.
A-Rod homers to left single to give the Yankees a 9-5 lead. The Tank's telepathy with A-Rod works.
Giambino flies out.
As Mariano comes in to the tune of "Enter Sandman", CHICO THE CRACK DEALER has to leave to make some money. The Tank is afraid that CHICO THE CRACK DEALER will jinx the Yankees even as Mariano comes in with a four run lead. The Tank is very superstitious and threatens to call the police on CHICO THE CRACK DEALER if he leaves early and the Yankees lose, God Forbid.
Navarro strikes out. Dukes swings and misses. Chop broccoli. Upton strikes out and the Yankees win. "Ballgame over, THE YANKEES WIN!!! THE YANKEEEESSSS WIN!!!!!
The Tank and Jesse celebrate the win below.
After the game, the Tank met up at Billy's to hang out with PermaGuest Outlaw Jack, Bobby from the Willie Nelson concert, and Killian from the Blonde, Brunette, and Redhead bar on the UES. Wow! It was really packed in Billy's. Worse than the last time I was there three or four years ago. A good time was had by all. Time to hit the gym.
Posted by the Tank with special reporting from PermaGuest Outlaw Jack live from Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.