No hits, but Yankees’ Andrew McCutchen has blast in winning debut

McCutchen was 0-for-3 with a hit by pitch and two strikeouts in his first game for the Yankees.

NEW YORK — Two pitches into his first game with the Yankees, Andrew McCutchen delivered a dose of entertainment.

As the Bleacher Creatures fans sitting behind him in right field broke into a chant of “An-drew, Andrew” for their roll call, McCutchen smiled, then responded with a little move that ended with him leaning back and pointing both arms their way.

McCutchen shows enthusiasm, discusses trade, role before debut

The fans loved it.

So did McCutchen, who had the time of his life joining the Yankees in the morning and then putting on pinstripes for a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers in his debut game.

His roll call response was ab-libbed.

“I was just being myself,” McCutchen said. “I do whatever comes to mind and that’s what came to mind. It was nice. I always knew about the roll call here. I always would see it. I was happy to be on this side of it to be able to give the fans something.”

McCutchen didn’t do much at the plate – he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, a groundout and hit by pitch that grazed his elbow pad as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter and right fielder – but that didn’t take anything away from a day that he called “surreal” three times in his pre-game interview.

Yankees fans right away took to McCutchen, a five-time All-Star and former MVP from his time in Pittsburgh who was traded by the Pirates last winter and then again by the San Francisco Giants late Thursday night for two prospects.

His new fans gave him a huge welcome in pre-game introductions, then again before he struck out looking leading off the Yankees’ first.

“I just wish I could have had a few hits, but other than that it was a good time,” McCutchen said. “I really enjoyed myself. The fans were great. It was loud. It was electric here. They definitely have a playoff atmosphere here.”

His roll call response was just a small sample of how McCutchen loves having fun at the ballpark.

“I think one of the key things that I can bring here is just the charisma and having a lot of fun and making a lot of people laugh,” said McCutchen, who will be starting in right until Aaron Judge gets healthy.

The Yankees are hoping for offensive production, too, and they figure to get some. McCutchen got off to a slow start this season, but he was dealt with a .255 average, 15 homers, 55 RBI and 73 walks in 110 games.

“I think bringing in Andrew obviously strengthens our defense as well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve been kind of mixing and matching out there (in right field) a lot (with infielder Neil Walker and Shane Robinson, who was DFA’d on Saturday). So I think we got a lot better on many fronts. It kind of replenishes our depth too and gives us more options.”

McCutchen figures to be a much better all-around alternative as a fill-in starter for Judge, whose recovery from a broken wrist may go well into September. And later on, McCutchen says he’s ready and willing for a reduced role when Judge is off the DL, even if it means becoming a bit player late in the season and in the playoffs.

“I came here with the knowledge of knowing the possibilities of when Judge does return what my role may be,” McCutchen said. “I’m accepting of it. Anything that’s going to happen, if that means being a guy that plays every so often, I’m fine with that.

“I’m just trying to help the team any way I can. I’m not here trying to be selfish or (say) that I deserve time to play. That’s not me. I’m just trying to be a team player and help any way that I can.

“I came here to win. That’s what it’s all about. To have (Judge) back here in the future … I’m looking forward to it. That’s just being a powerhouse of a team. Let’s win a lot more games!”

McCutchen was mildly bummed that he didn’t do something at the plate to make his first Yankees’ game more special, but he still had a ball.

“It was a great day all around,” he said. “I tried to just let it sink all in being in the (clubhouse) and playing the game. I didn’t have the game that I wanted to have personally for it being my first one, but we got the win and that’s what’s most important.

“It’s a day I’m not going to forget for sure. I’m just hoping I can show up (Sunday) and have a better day.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.