NEW YORK -- Cold, shorter rest, a bigger ball. No matter the challenges, Masahiro Tanaka is making a smooth transition from Japan to the major leagues for one major reason: his split-fingered fastball. Tanaka allowed two bunt hits in eight dominant innings on a frigid Wednesday, Carlos Beltran homered for the third straight game and New York welcomed the Chicago Cubs to the current Yankee Stadium with a 3-0 victory in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. "That split is not something you want to sit on. Its not something youre going to be able to handle," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "But, as it was coming out of the hand, as the guys were coming in, they were saying, Gosh, it looks like a fastball. It ends up diving." And it makes batters look silly. The 25-year-old Japanese right-hander struck out 10 for his second straight start, this time while wearing three-quarter sleeves on a 43-degree day that felt much colder because of a brisk wind. Tanaka (2-0) gave up a replay-aided hit to Junior Lake in the second inning, and Anthony Rizzo pushed a bunt toward a vacated third base with a shifted infield leading off the seventh. Tanaka has 28 strikeouts in 22 innings, the most strikeouts for a Yankees pitcher in his first three career starts, according to the Yankees via the Elias Sports Bureau. Tanaka threw 107 pitches, and Shawn Kelley allowed a single to Rizzo as he finished the three-hitter for his fourth save. "It was cold out there and I did feel it but I was able to control myself, control the grip and manage myself to pitch the way I did today," Tanaka said. Dean Anna had a sacrifice fly and Jacoby Ellsbury added an RBI tap-out against Jason Hammel (2-1) in Chicagos first regular-season game in the ballpark, which opened in 2009. The Cubs have yet to win in the Bronx. They were swept in the 1932 and 38 World Series and lost all three-games in 2005, their only interleague series in New York. With Tuesdays rainout postponing Jackie Robinson Day festivities, the Yankees planned to unveil a plaque honouring Nelson Mandela before the nightcap. Players from both teams were to wear No. 42, and Michael Pineda was set to make his first start for New York since he was spotted with a mysterious brown substance on his hand Thursday against Boston. Travis Wood was slated to start for Chicago. After an overnight storm, the grounds crew used blowers to melt the ice on the tarp before removing the covering from the infield. Snow still covered the grass in right field while the Cubs took batting practice, and many players wore ski caps. But it wasnt too cold for Beltran. He connected on a 1-1 changeup from Hammel with one out in the first. Anna started again at shortstop for Derek Jeter and drove in his run with a fly to left field in the fourth. Jeter missed three games with a tight quadriceps but manager Joe Girardi said the captain would start the second game. "Right now I feel good at the plate, and am seeing good results, said Beltran, the current AL player of the week. New York added a run in the fifth when Junior Lake lost Brett Gardners liner to left in the sun for a double. After Gardner advanced on Beltrans groundout, Ellsburys bat made contact with catcher John Bakers glove before dunking a ball in front of the mound. Catchers interference was called but under rule 6.08 (c), the Yankees had the choice to reject the interference call -- it would have put runners at the corners -- and take the play as it unfolded on the field. The elected for the latter, with Gardner scoring and Ellsbury tagging out by Hammel. "With one out you take the run," Girardi said. Tanaka gave up six runs -- five earned -- in his first two starts combined, all before the third inning was over. This time he was sharp from the start. He walked his second batter this season and lowered his ERA to 2.05 ERA. Lake bunted toward the third base side, and Tanaka fielded it cleanly. Initially, first base umpire Manny Gonzalez called Lake out but Cubs manager Rick Renteria requested a challenge and the call was overturned. Hammel was nearly as good. He yielded three runs and five hits, striking out five. "I thought I threw the ball pretty well, but he was better today," Hammel said. "I was very impressed. Strike thrower, obviously, his split finger is devastating." NOTES: Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira (right hamstring) is working out in Tampa, Fla. He is eligible to come off the DL Sunday. ... The Cubs have played in 122 ballparks. ... The Yankees swept two exhibition games from the Cubs at the new stadium before opening day in 09. ... Renteria asked for a second review on a close play at first base in the seventh. The replay umpire ruled the call stands, which means there wasnt conclusive evidence to overturn the call on the field. Claudio Bravo Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Kevin De Bruyne Jersey . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. http://www.authenticmanchestercityshop.c...er-City-Jersey/. They find themselves trying to knock each other out in the Western Conference finals for the second straight year. The Blackhawks prevailed last year on their way to the Stanley Cup, and they have the early lead this time after taking the opener, 3-1. David Silva Jersey . Johns, N.L., to Thunder Bay, Ont., after a deal was announced to build a new $106-million "event centre" in the Lake Superior community. Ilkay Gundogan Jersey . After falling 5-0 on home ice in a game that could have tied them for second in the wild card standings, Washington head coach Adam Oates had some strong words for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Dimitri Pattersons suspension will last a few more days. The New York Jets announced Tuesday night that the veteran cornerback who went AWOL for 48 hours last weekend will sit out for the rest of the week, including the preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday night, but is eligible to return to the team next Monday. The team also said that additional terms of discipline would not be disclosed. Patterson is likely facing a team-imposed fine. Patterson had been suspended indefinitely on Monday after he left the team last Friday night before the Jets preseason game against the Giants without speaking to anyone in the organization. General manager John Idzik said the team wanted to gather facts before determining how Patterson would be further disciplined. The Jets wouldnt provide details on the reason Patterson gave for what the team called an "unexcused" absence. Earlier Tuesday, coach Rex Ryan said he didnt anticipate a resolution to the situation in the next few days, and also didnt have any additional updates. Patterson, who signed a one-year, $3 million deal in April, might still face an uncertain future with the Jets, particularly after teams make their final roster cuts Saturday. Ryan wouldnt speculate as to whether the Jets could release Patterson before the regular season. "Were not going to comment on what may or may not take place," Ryan said. "We know what the situation is now and were moving forward. Were going to coach the guys that are here and thats what were doing." Patterson was at meetings, a walkthrough and the pregame meal last Friday, but didnt show for the preseason game later that night at MetLife Stadium. He gave the Jets no warning he would leave the team, and didnt speak to anyone in the organization directly until he met with Ryan and Idzik on Sunday night at the training facility. Idzik said Monday that Pattersons suspension would be "brief," but the 31-year-old cornerback would face more discipline once the team had finished looking into the matter. Patterson was not at practice Monday or Tuesday. "I really dont know what to say about that," quarterback Geno Smith said of Pattersons situation. "I just hope hes fine, hope hes OK. As a teammate, as a friend, I want to support him. Obviously, coaches are going to make their decisions on what they think is best for the team. We stand behind that."t; Patterson had been projected as a starter for the regular season, but has been hampered most of the summer by ankle, calf and quadriceps injuries so he has played only in the preseason opener against Indianapolis -- and struggled.dddddddddddd The Jets expected Patterson to test out his leg during pregame warmups last Friday night, and would then determine whether he would play. Ryan acknowledged Patterson wasnt going to start the game, but could have entered with the first-team defence at some point. When asked if the absence might have stemmed from being upset about not starting, Ryan again refused to speculate. Even before Pattersons puzzling absence, the Jets faced a shaky situation at the cornerback position. Dee Milliner, expected to be the teams top cover man in his second season, is still recovering from a high ankle sprain that has his status for the regular-season opener in doubt. Third-round draft pick Dexter McDougle is out for the year with a torn knee ligament. Safety-turned-cornerback Antonio Allen is working his way back from a concussion. Backup Darrin Walls, who could end up starting in Week 1, has a leg ailment but Ryan said "its not a major issue." That leaves Kyle Wilson, Ellis Lankster, LeQuan Lewis and Johnny Patrick as the Jets top healthy cornerbacks. Ryan laughed when asked if he had ever been in a more dire situation in the secondary. "Guys, I coached at New Mexico Highlands," he joked. "I coached in Vegas, New Mexico. But, you know what? Its like anything else. Sometimes, an opportunity presents itself that maybe normally wouldnt. You end up finding a diamond in the rough, so to speak." NOTES: WR Stephen Hill pushed through practice despite vomiting on the field, Ryan said. He sat out Sunday with an illness and was sent home Monday after he vomited. Hill has been the subject of trade rumours because of his inability to be consistent on the field. When asked about an ESPN report that said the Jets looked into dealing Hill this summer, Ryan shrugged. "Well, I didnt try to trade him," he said. "I can comment on me. Again, a lot of times with anything, youll listen to whatever things are thrown out there. This is the first Ive heard of it, though." ... QBs coach David Lee said third-stringer Matt Simms has "improved as much as any guy I think I can ever remember coaching." Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Camo China NFL Jerseys ' ' '