<P> The number of home runs hit at the new stadium slowed significantly as the season progressed, but a new single - season record for most home runs hit at a Yankee home ballpark was nonetheless set in the Yankees' 73rd home game of 2009 when Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hit the 216th home run of the season at the venue, surpassing the previous record of 215 set at the original Yankee Stadium in 2005 . However, the Yankees offense, as in previous years, had employed many home run hitters in 2009 . The Yankees hit 108 home runs while playing on the road, the second most in baseball behind the Philadelphia Phillies . </P> <P> In 2010, the early rate of home runs were markedly less through May 15, 2010, with 35 home runs hit in 14 games for 2.5 per game (a projection of 205--in 2009, the stadium finished at 2.93 per game for a total of 237). Even though the stadium's home run rate decreased slightly for the 2010 season to 2.73 per game, it was still the highest figure in the majors . However, the prolific home run rate of April and May 2009 that drew criticism has not sustained itself over any season thus far, and while through the first two months of the 2011 season the Yankees hit far more homers than any other team in the majors, Yankee Stadium was not the top home run park . </P> <P> Before the official Opening Day against the Cleveland Indians on April 16, 2009, the Yankees hosted a two - game exhibition series at the stadium in early April against the Chicago Cubs . Grady Sizemore of the Indians was the first player to hit a grand slam off of Yankee pitcher Dámaso Marte . The Indians and 2008 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee spoiled the opening of the new stadium by winning 10--2 . Before the Yankees went to bat for the first time, the bat that Babe Ruth used to hit his first home run at the old Yankee Stadium in 1923 was placed momentarily on home plate . Jorge Posada hit the first Yankee home run in the new ballpark hitting his off Lee in the same game . Russell Branyan, while playing for the Seattle Mariners, was the first player to hit a home run off of the Mohegan Sun Restaurant in center field . </P> <P> Like its predecessor, the new Yankee Stadium hosted the World Series in its very first season; in the 2009 World Series, the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 2 . It also became the latest stadium to host a World Series - clinching victory by its home team in the venue's first season (after the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series at Busch Stadium in 2006), when, on November 4, 2009, the Yankees won their 27th World Series championship against the Phillies . The Yankees are the only team to inaugurate two stadiums with World Series wins and also appeared in the 1976 World Series following the refurbishment of the original Yankee Stadium, losing to the Big Red Machine in four straight . On October 6, 2011 Detroit Tigers in game five of the ALDS were the first team to eliminate the Yankees at the new Yankee Stadium in the postseason . </P>

Who hit the first home run at the new yankee stadium