NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter took a few loping steps out of the batter's box, seeming to allow himself a little extra time to take in the sights of his final home opener at Yankee Stadium. The deep drive off his bat smacked into the left-field wall instead of the palms of an eager fan, and the captain had to turn it on.
Jeter legged out that fifth-inning double, his left hand grasping the bag just ahead of the tag, and he could exhale with relief. Jeter would score as part of a two-run rally, helping the Yankees post a 4-2 victory over the Orioles on Monday in the season's first game in the Bronx.
 
Yankees hold off Orioles in Derek Jeter's final home opener
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receiving the loudest cheers during pregame introductions and joining former teammates Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera for a first-pitch ceremony, Jeter pushed across the Yanks' first run with a third-inning double-play ball, finishing 1-for-4 in his return to the Stadium.
The Yankees squeezed 6 1/3 innings of solid two-run ball from starter Hiroki Kuroda (1-1), who scattered eight hits and struck out four without issuing a walk in his second start of the year.
The win was closed out by Shawn Kelley instead of closer David Robertson, who is headed to the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin.
Matt Wieters had a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, and Nelson Cruz drove home a seventh-inning run with a hit off Kuroda, who tossed an economical 92 pitches (56 strikes).
Matt Thornton and David Phelps each recorded an out in that frame, bailing Kuroda out from a two-on, one-out jam, and Adam Warren struck out Chris Davis looking to end the eighth inning representing the tying run.
New York produced four runs against Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who lasted 4 2/3 innings in falling to 0-2. Jeter knocked in Yangervis Solarte with his third-inning grounder, and Solarte continued his hot start with a fourth-inning RBI single that smacked off the glove of diving right fielder Nick Markakis.
Jeter doubled in the fifth and scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's single to right field, and after Jimenez departed with the bases loaded, reliever Zach Britton forced home a run with a walk to Kelly Johnson before escaping the inning.
With the victory, the Yankees improved to 73-37-1 all time in home openers, winning for the fourth time in six home openers at the current incarnation of Yankee Stadium.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
 

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