"The Yankees aren't always going to need $82.5 million worth of front-end dominance from Burnett. Pitching serviceably enough to allow a loaded lineup and a shutdown bullpen to do much of the heavy lifting often will suffice.

The recently flu-ridden Burnett was excellent for four innings before admittedly tiring in the fifth, but completing that frame was more than adequate as the Yanks erupted for three more home runs to open the season with two straight wins, including Saturday's 10-6 shelling of the Tigers at the Stadium.

"I felt terrible. I was good early and toward the end I sort of wore down," Burnett said after allowing three runs over five innings to start the process of putting his horrid 2010 season behind him. "But I have to mention the offense. Anytime they come out like that, it helps me out."

Burnett joked that his ears were so clogged that he barely heard the crowd erupt when he got Magglio Ordoñez to chase a curveball in the dirt to strand two runners and complete the fifth inning with a 6-3 lead.

But it undoubtedly made him feel better that the loaded Yanks' bats made plenty of noise, as well.

Notorious slow starter Mark Teixeira hit his second three-run homer in as many games in the second inning off Tigers starter Brad Penny, matching his total through the first month of last season.

Newcomer Russell Martin added a three-run shot in the fifth, Alex Rodriguez tacked on a solo blast in the sixth - the 614th of his career - and Derek Jeter moved two hits closer to 3,000 and tied Hall of Famer Al Simmons for 35th all-time with 2,928."