Tampa, Fla., March 2, 2016; Yankees 10, Tigers 9 — What are the chances that the first ever Yankee Classic from a Spring Training game to appear on YES television took place today? Hey, I get it. I’ve been attending Spring Training on each Florida coast for 3 decades now. For the teams, it’s applying practiced skills in game situations, and evaluating different levels of talent. While observing talented pros playing the game we love in warm environs after a cold, bland winter totally describes the fan experience.

The only problem is, nobody explained those parameters to the 52 players and roughly 8,000 fans who gathered in George M. Steinbrenner Field Tuesday afternoon.

It was the opener, for both teams, and the weather was warm, not hot, if a little iffy with lots of clouds in the late morning. Kudos go out to Detroit for sending a representative team (not a given in March), including newly signed outfielder Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez, Anthony Gose, Cameron Maybin; along with infielders Ian Kinsler, Mike Aviles, Casey McGehee; and Bryan Holaday.

The Yanks started uber-prospect starter Luis Severino, who set the visitors down in order in the first, but struggled with his control the next frame, and found himself down in the second once Holaday drilled the first of 3 Detroit homers, a grand slam for a 5-0 lead. A Martinez triple and Kinsler homer the next two frames got it to 7-0, though a fine play by left fielder Ben Gamel, and two plays by new Yankee Starlin Castro at second limited some of the damage.

There is nothing strange about an early 7-0 deficit in these games, and veteran and novice fans on both sides settled in for the remaining innings under improving skies and a warming day, with temps approaching 80 degrees. But the Yankees were not resigned to losing their spring opener in a laugher, far from it.

Castro finally collected the first Yankee hit, a solid single to center with one down in the fourth after veteran righty Mike Pelfrey had shut them down through three, and following doubles by Brian McCann and Dustin Ackley closed the margin to 7-3. With hurlers Tyler Cloyd, Mark Montgomery, Tyler Olson, and Johnny Barbato keeping the Tigers at bay, a continued extra base hits onslaught (6 doubles and a triple, including run-scoring shots from Castro and outfielder Lane Adams in the fifth and sixth, respectively), the home team forged a 7-7 tie.

Yet another 2-base hit off the bat of backup catcher Austin Romine and a fielder’s choice grounder got the Yanks an 8-7 lead in the seventh. All that was needed was a solid ninth inning from right-hander Nick Goody, who pitched some effective innings in the bigs last year.

Of course, it did not happen. In six pitches, outfielders Jason Kritzan and Steven Maya delivered a double off the wall in left and a home run to right, for a 9-8 Tigers lead.

And then in a quirk that can only happen in Spring Training, Detroit made several moves that resulted in them fielding two No. 17 players on the field at the same time, Will Allen at first base, and right-hander Joe Maniply on the mound.

One of the Yankees’ top prospects, shortstop Jorge Mateo, had taken over for Didi Gregorius in the sixth, when he struck out flailing at a low outside curve, but he almost beat the throw to first once the catcher momentarily bobbled it. With a reputation for blistering speed, stellar defense, and “let’s see” offense, he started the bottom of the ninth by launching a leadoff missile that barely caught the top of the left center field wall, but burned his way to third base. Romine delivered a one-out infield single to tie it, but the Yanks won the game on the game’s first error, as Dustin Fowler’s short fly to left glanced off Kritzan’s glove, and pinch runner Tyler Wade scored the winner.

There’s not much more to say. GMS Field Opening Day is always a special occasion, all the way back to March 1, 1996, when it opened as Legends Field, with George Steinbrenner himself wielding a rake to help get things ready following a wind storm. The grounds crew unleashed their first rendition of “YMCA” that day, Yankee stars were feted pregame, with a high school band, as today. The Yanks beat the Indians, then surprised all of baseball by dominating the AL East, and winning the World Series. One change today: The late Yogi Berra was honored this time, as he will be all year.

So they won their Spring opener. It may mean something, maybe not. But one thing is clear: This team will have to go some time before cashing in a more entertaining win than this 10-9 win over Detroit.

Where do we go from here?

BTW,TYW
YANKEE BASEBALL!!!