It would be hard to convince any Yankees fan in attendance at the team’s home opener that this was not a perfect game.
In splendid, nearly cloudless weather, the crowd enjoyed fresh stadium enhancements, an 8-1 laugher over Tampa Bay, and an electric performance by the brilliant enigma Michael Pineda.
Pineda was so close to a historic achievement that Marc Chalpin of Manhattan was counting down the outs in Section 203 of the bleachers, refusing to use those two words — “perfect” and “game” — in conjunction.
“But we are well aware,” he said.