Wells Becomes 1st Catcher To Hit Leadoff Homer On Opening Day And Yankees Beat Brewers 4-2

Austin Wells became the first catcher to hit a leadoff homer on opening day, Anthony Volpe also went deep and the New York Yankees began their AL pennant defense by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday.

Carlos Rodon 1-0, starting because of ace Gerrit Cole's season-ending elbow injury, allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Rodon got 13 swing and misses, including nine on sliders.

Devin Williams, an All-Star closer acquired from Milwaukee in December , loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth on two hits and a walk. He gave up Brice Turang's sacrifice fly, then struck out Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich for the save.

Chourio fanned five times, two more than his previous high.

Wells put the Yankees ahead when he sent a 2-0 fastball into the right-field short porch against Freddy Peralta 0-1 - it would not have been out of any other big league ballpark.