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Yankees Rout Red Sox in MLB Season Opener
AP ^ | Apr 4, 2005

Posted on 04/04/2005 10:13:03 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo

NEW YORK (AP) -- The tallest Yankee ever began the big task of putting the Boston Red Sox back in their place.

Randy Johnson shut down Boston in his New York debut, dominating his new team's old rival. He outpitched David Wells, got help from Hideki Matsui and a rejuvenated Jason Giambi and led the Yankees over the World Series champions 9-2 Sunday night in the major league opener.

``I was pretty excited to go out there,'' said Johnson, who remembered how fans cheered him when he walked out to the bullpen to warm up.

Already, there were bad omens for the Red Sox: Matsui leaped in left to rob Kevin Millar of a two-run homer in the third, Giambi stretched to reel in two bad throws by shortstop Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez made a diving stop at third on Edgar Renteria, and Tino Martinez made a backhand dive at first to prevent an extra-base hit by Johnny Damon.

By the time Matsui hit a two-run homer off Matt Mantei for a 8-1 lead in the eighth, it was almost piling on.

``We're not disappointed,'' Damon said. ``We accept the fact that we really weren't that good tonight, We'll get better.''

With Boston taking the field as champions for the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox returned to the scene of their improbable triumph staring directly at the 6-foot-10 Big Unit, brought to the Bronx to help the Yankees win their first title since 2000.

Giambi, back at first base following injury, illness and a reported admission of steroid use, received a pair of standing ovations from the sellout crowd of 54,818 and went 1-for-2 with a single and two hit-by-pitches.

``I had a calm feeling because I knew I did everything I could to get to this point,'' he said. ``They respect a guy who worked hard to get back to where he was.''

Gary Sheffield, back from offseason shoulder surgery, hit a go-ahead single in a three-run third inning against Wells, and Martinez received two huge ovations in his first game in pinstripes since 2001.

``Who wouldn't like this?'' he said.

Since New York moved within three outs of sweeping the Red Sox in the AL championship series last October, the Red Sox had won eight straight, becoming the first major league team to overcome a 3-0 postseason deficit, then blowing out St. Louis in the World Series.

But following an offseason of joy in New England, the Red Sox started with a thud, pitching poorly, making a pair of errors and losing their fifth straight season opener. New York had 15 hits off Wells and six relievers.

``It's the first game we won since Game 3,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said. ``It was a long winter waiting to get on the field again.''

The usual swells and celebrities were on hand to watch the Yankees extend their winning streak in home openers to eight. A sign in left field expressed the hope of New York fans -- ``1918-2004-2090'' -- referring to the years of Boston's last two Series titles and projected date of its next.

``The crowd was ready,'' Damon said.

Johnson was a model of quiet focus hours before the game, putting on a black undershirt, then a gray sweat shirt before sitting in front of his new locker near Torre's office and looking ahead, gathering his thoughts.

Hitting Johnson is, well, a tall order -- the New Yorker's playful front-page cartoon of him on the mound cut off at the neck.

He opened with a 93 mph pitch to Damon, and struck out Renteria and Manny Ramirez looking in the first, the latter on a smoking 97 mph heater. He got in trouble in the second, when Matsui grabbed Millar's fly ball and Jay Payton singled in the season's first run.

Johnson and Red Sox manager Terry Francona called Matsui's catch the turning point.

``They don't play much basketball in Japan,'' Jeter said playfully. ``I didn't know he could jump that high.''

Bernie Williams' sacrifice fly tied the score in the bottom half, and New York took a 4-1 lead in the third on Sheffield's double, Matsui's RBI single and a bases-loaded balk by Wells, who stepped back to start his windup and then stopped.

Rodriguez, vilified by Boston during the offseason and spring training, added a run-scoring single in the sixth off Blaine Neal and scored on Ruben Sierra's double.

Johnson allowed the one run and five hits in six innings and struck out six. Tanyon Sturtze and Tom Gordon followed with one hit relief.

Wells, who pitched a perfect game for New York in 1998 and helped the Yankees win the World Series that year, was starting in place of Curt Schilling, his bloody sock in the Hall of Fame and the ankle it surrounded still recovering from surgery that followed the title.

Signed to fill the gap created by the departures of Pedro Martinez and Matt Clement, Wells made a shaky debut, allowing four runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings. With the temperature 43 degrees, he had trouble gripping the ball.

Fans gave him the loudest boos.

``Out in the bullpen, they rode me pretty good,'' Wells said. ``That's all right.''

It was a night of milestones -- the first night opener at Yankee Stadium, the first time the Red Sox played as defending champions since 1919, when they opened with a 10-0 win over New York at the Polo Grounds behind a Babe Ruth home run.

Johnson made his 13th opening-day start, tying Roger Clemens for the lead among active pitchers.

New York, with the first $200 million payroll in baseball history, had a former All-Star in every spot in its starting lineup, the first time that happened in the major leagues since the Yankees did it on July, 24, 2003, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In all, it added up to 53 All-Star appearances.

Notes

Flags were at half-staff and a moment of silence was observed one day after the death of Pope John Paul II, who celebrated mass at Yankee Stadium in 1979.


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: chockees; mlb; riverachokes; spankees; yanksux
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To: F16Fighter
I've been watching on ESPN (where Rick Sutcliffe is rooting like mad for the Sox, even making the mistake of calling them "we" at one point).

Good to see Giambi and Bernie deliver; they both need a shot of confidence. Wright was very shaky (just as he was in his first outing), but somehow managed to stay out of big trouble. A-Rod looks just awful. (Btw, he's back in the cleanup spot for the first time since mid-'04).

Sheffield's doing his thing, hitting foul balls 450 feet and swinging out of his shoes every time. I honestly don't think I've ever seen him get an opposite field hit. .....ever.

61 posted on 04/13/2005 7:05:53 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: F16Fighter
Uh oh.

Mo's coming in.

62 posted on 04/13/2005 7:09:12 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo

Mo's gonna give us ogita...


63 posted on 04/13/2005 7:16:53 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
A relatively painless save!

Big win.

If the Big Unit shuts them down tomorrow night all will be well. .....for now.

64 posted on 04/13/2005 7:20:41 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo
HEY! Mo closed it out!

Yeah, great to see Bernie and Giambi break out -- especially in a game like this. Wright? He did worm his way outta major trouble (heh, and we beat Schilling). Jeter made TWO outstanding plays. Sturtz did his thing...Good win.

"I've been watching on ESPN (where Rick Sutcliffe is rooting like mad for the Sox, even making the mistake of calling them "we" at one point)."

Ya gotta be kidding me. Sutcliffe said, "we" referring to the Sox?? Un-freakin-believable!

Sheffield hitting foul HRs again. And yeah, A-Rod's lookin' like crap. He couldn't even deliver a Sac Fly or ground-out w/Shef on 3rd and 1 out. Could have been important...

Yank announcers picked Bernie as 'Player of the Game.'

65 posted on 04/13/2005 7:24:41 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
Very strange. ....almost every time these two teams play each other the ESPN announcers make a big deal of the so-called "infamous" incident in the '04 ALCS when A-Rod knocked the ball out of Arroyo's mitt on the way down the first base line. "Infamous?" The umps made the right call, and that was that. A-Rod was acting on instinct and I certainly don't blame him -- people are acting like he committed a criminal act.

A-Rod just flied out with 2 on and 2 out, btw. ....as usual. (He'd down to 5th in the order now).

Did you see that horrible call on Womack to start the game? Millar didn't come within 5 feet of tagging him and the ump called him out. Billy Martin (RIP) would've kicked up half the infield dirt in the ump's face after that one.

66 posted on 04/14/2005 4:20:20 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo
"Almost every time these two teams play each other the ESPN announcers make a big deal of the so-called "infamous" incident in the '04 ALCS when A-Rod knocked the ball out of Arroyo's mitt on the way down the first base line. "Infamous?" The umps made the right call, and that was that. A-Rod was acting on instinct and I certainly don't blame him -- people are acting like he committed a criminal act."

I know -- big freakin' deal. It was just another play. So A-Rod tried to knock the ball outta Arroyo's hand.

The ESPN hard-ups must have had pre-game, pre-series meetings that planned to remind the idiot-viewers' of A-Rod's unforgivable "evil" criminal acts. Lol, as though the pot for a Bosox-Yankee game has to be stirred. I'm glad I can listen to YES with Murcer and Jim Kaat to talk actual baseball. Btw, straighten out any possibility of getting a game instead of just the pre and post-game?

"Did you see that horrible call on Womack to start the game? Millar didn't come within 5 feet of tagging him and the ump called him out. Billy Martin (RIP) would've kicked up half the infield dirt in the ump's face after that one."

No! That bad? As bad as Knoblauch's phantom playoff tag? ;-) Yeah, Martin would have reamed the 1st base ump's @ss!

A-Rod whiffs again. Torre ougtha stick him in the 9-hole.

67 posted on 04/14/2005 6:13:05 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
The Womack call was bad but the umps have evened the score, allowing Jeter to get away with taking a probable called third strike. Instead he walked to load the bases, and then the Yanks capitalized and (for the time being) took the lead. Matsui is clutch.

A-Rod looks totally lost out there. ....and the Unit is giving up way too many big hits.

68 posted on 04/14/2005 6:27:52 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: F16Fighter

Ah don't know hoddly nuthin' bout baseball but you guys shuh do make it sound ex-CI-ting. ;-)


69 posted on 04/14/2005 6:41:28 PM PDT by Kinky (Yeah.)
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To: Mr. Mojo
And the Yank announcers thought Shef's pitch he walked with was iffy.Oh yeah -- Matsui is money. What a horse....Aaah crap -- thought Jeets was doing damage!

Btw, Michael Kay and Jim Kaat both noted A-Rod's bat "slowing up"...

Uh-oh...Gordon.

70 posted on 04/14/2005 6:42:02 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: Kinky

Yeah, we can get reeeal passionate 'bout dis here game.


71 posted on 04/14/2005 6:43:06 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter

You play? :o)


72 posted on 04/14/2005 6:45:07 PM PDT by Kinky (Yeah.)
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To: F16Fighter
Uh-oh...Gordon

You said it.

73 posted on 04/14/2005 6:46:14 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Kinky; Mr. Mojo
Used to play....

D@mn. Gordon coughs it up. Again.

(Gordon won't make it through the 8th)

74 posted on 04/14/2005 6:47:23 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
Looks like Sheff took a swing at a fan who was harrassing him.

....and he couldn't have played that ball any worse, btw.

Replay coming up shortly.

75 posted on 04/14/2005 6:53:29 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo

Holy sh*t!! Did you see Sheffield???


76 posted on 04/14/2005 6:54:00 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter

It looks like the fan could've touched Sheff while he was trying to pick up the ball. ....and then Sheff (ill-advisedly) took a half-hearted swing at him with his glove.


77 posted on 04/14/2005 6:57:40 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo
Un-REAL!!

A drunken Bosox Fan took a swipe at Sheffield!

Oh and...Shef played that carom like a blind man. Gordon?? Pffft!!!...

And...POS Gordon DOESN'T make it outta the 8th.

78 posted on 04/14/2005 6:58:12 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
Let's just say I've been less than impressed with the entire pitching staff this year.

...and I was mistaken -- Sheff swung at the guy with his right hand. ....baseball in hand.

79 posted on 04/14/2005 7:00:28 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo
Good thing Shef held off cold-cockin' that idiot, Yep, came that close...
80 posted on 04/14/2005 7:01:21 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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