Before the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi speculated Montgomery's experience pitching for the Gamecocks in the 2012 College World Series would minimize his pre-game jitters as he has already pitched on a national stage.
All of the talk had been that whoever the fifth starter would be wouldn't be needed until Sunday due to off days.
Yankees flamethrower Luis Severino (0-0, 7.20 ERA) will oppose Rays' righty Matt Andriese (0-0, 9.00 ERA). There is an off day tomorrow before the Yankees and Rays get back at it on Wednesday. That opened the door for the fifth starter to start on Wednesday and the choice was Montgomery.
TIGERS 2, RED SOX 1 Justin Verlander and Chris Sale dominated in a matchup of ace pitchers before Nicholas Castellanos singled in the go-ahead run off Sale in the eighth inning lift host Detroit to a victory.
Without Gardner, Aaron Hicks will likely start in left field. He was able to use his breaking ball extremely well, whether it was his curveball or his cutter, his changeup's good.
"The biggest thing was my location was really good today", said Pineda, who first became aware of his no-hit bid after the fourth inning. The former Gamecock standout, who earned his promotion to the big leagues with an impressive spring training, had an encouraging debut in one of the most pressure-packed environments in all of baseball. He made himself into a serious contender in his last three appearances.
Mitchell (1-0) got four outs for the win, and Aroldis Chapman retired two batters for the first save of his second Yankees' stint.
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These "collaborators of justice" can shave time off their sentences by cooperating with anti-mafia prosecutors. In honour of Francis' visit inmates gave him gifts including farm produce, eggs, honey and wooden crucifix.
Pineda, who gave up four runs over 3 2/3 innings in a loss against Alex Cobb at Tampa Bay last week, started 15 of his first 18 batters with strikes and didn't fall behind 2-0 in a count until the sixth.
Montgomery didn't even get the opportunity to start until March 23, but he had made four relief appearances and pitched to 3.48 ERA in those outings - the last four flawless innings to finish out a no-hitter on March 17.
The idea was that the Yankees would struggle through this season with what they had, even though it wasn't very much, and then start the process of turning the rotation over next season after the dust settled and the cream rose to the top from the talent in their minor league system.
For the day, Pineda fanned 11 in his 7-2/3 innings, allowing the two hits and no walks, throwing 93 pitches, 67 for strikes.
MLB fans can catch all of the action nationally on the MLB Network.
Back at the scene of his major league debut, Blake Snell fell apart before he could be rewarded with his third career win against the Yankees.
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