Last year was a bitter defeat suffered by the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and tonight was the first game of nineteen this season. The Red Sox opened the salvo with a convincing win over the Yankees by knocking around their off-season acquisition Javier Vazquez for four first inning runs. Bill Mueller and Manny Ramirez both hit home runs to lead 4-0 early. Tim Wakefield (1-0, 2.19 ERA) continued his mastery over the Yankees (starting anyway) by allowing just two runs in seven innings of work to keep the Sox in front. Doug Mirabelli knocked in two runs of his own including a home run to wrap up the scoring. Keith Foulke slammed the door in the ninth and the Sox had their first victory against the Yankees this season 6-2 at Fenway Park.
Wakefield got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kenny Lofton led off by grounding out to Pokey Reese to start. Derek Jeter flied out to center and Alex Rodriguez grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to Vazquez in the bottom of the first as Johnny Damon reached on an error by Jason Giambi to start. Bill Mueller made Giambi pay with a two run homer into the bullpen. David Ortiz struck out swinging but Manny Ramirez was awarded a home run when replays showed it hit off the right field wall and should have been a triple. Kevin Millar singled off the Monster but Ellis Burks forced him at second. Mark Bellhorn walked and Doug Mirabelli hit a routine grounder to Jeter....through his legs for an error to score Burks for another run. Pokey Reese flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.
The Yankees got one back in the top of the second although Giambi flied out to the right field warning track to start. Gary Sheffield popped up to Manny but Jorge Posada hit a home run into the Charles River to cut the lead. Hideki Matsui grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Yankees down 4-1.
Damon flied out to left to begin the bottom of the second but Mueller slashed an opposite field single into left field. Ortiz banged into a double play to end the inning.
Bernie Williams took strike three to start the top of the third and Enrique Wilson grounded out to third. Lofton also grounded out to third to end the inning. Vazquez turned up the heat in the bottom of the third as Ramirez struck out swinging to start. Millar and Burks both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jeter grounded a single up the middle to start the top of the fourth but A-Rod waived badly for strike three. Giambi walked but Sheffield grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fourth as Bellhorn flied out to right to start. Fox decided it would be cute to play Bucky Dent's home run from 1978 and Mirabelli stuck it up their ass with a home run into the bullpen to increase the lead. Reese popped up to short and Damon grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
"Take THAT, Fox" - Mirabelli
The Yankees answered in the top of the fifth as Posada grounded out to second to start. Matsui lined a base hit past Reese then took second on a passed ball. Williams dumped a base hit to right to score Matsui to cut the lead. Bernie moved to second on a grounder back to the mound by Wilson and Lofton grounded out to second to end the inning with the Yankees down 5-2.
Mueller led off the bottom of the fifth with a base hit through the right side, but was thrown out at second trying to steal when Ortiz struck out swinging. Ramirez grounded out to short to end the inning.
Jeter grounded out to third to start the top of the sixth but Reese bobbled a grounder by A-Rod for an error. Giambi walked but A-Rod was thrown out at third on a double steal attempt, although Jason moved to second. Sheffield took strike three on the inside corner for strike three to end the inning. The Sox finished off Vazquez in the bottom of the sixth as Millar hit a bullet to A-Rod to start. Burks singled off the bottom of the Monster then moved to third on a base hit to right by Bellhorn. Mirabelli doubled into the left field corner to score Burks, chasing Vazquez. Paul Quantrill came in to face Reese and he hit a comebacker, getting Bellhorn caught in a rundown. All of a sudden Joe Torre came out and lifted Quantrill in favor of Gabe White to pitch to Damon. Damon flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-2.
Wakefield returned for one final inning in the top of the seventh and Posada grounded out to second to start. Fox decided to be cute again by showing Aaron Boone's home run before Matsui walked. Williams walked and old pal Tony Clark pinch hit for Wilson. Clark struck out swinging and Lofton forced Williams at second to end the inning. That was it for Wakefield who went 7 strong innings and held the Yankees to 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks.
Miguel Cairo came in to play second in the bottom of the seventh as Mueller led off with a walk. Ortiz popped up to left and that was it for White. Jorge De Paula came in to face Ramirez and Manny grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Scott Williamson was all over the place in the top of the eighth as Jeter grounded out to second to start. A-Rod hit a bullet to Mueller but Ramirez dropped a routine pop up by Giambi for an error. A wild pitch moved Giambi to second and Sheffield walked. A wild pitch moved both runners over and Posada walked to chase Williamson. Alan Embree came in and struck out Matsui swinging to end the inning. Millar grounded out to short to start the bottom of the eighth and Fox once again tried to stick it to the Sox by showing a flashback to Grady Little leaving Pedro Martinez on the mound in Game 7. Burks, Bellhorn and Mirabelli all walked to load the bases and that was it for De Paula. Donovan Osbourne came in to pitch and Reese grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Keith Foulke came in to close out the top of the ninth with Gabe Kapler in for defense in right field. Williams popped up to center to start but Ortiz dropped a pop up in foul territory by Cairo for an error. Cairo was plunked and moved to second on a Lofton comebacker, but Jeter popped up to center to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-2.
Hero of the Night is Tim Wakefield. He got the win by tossing 7 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) allowing 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out four batters.
The Good:
Bill Mueller was 3 for 3 with a two run home run and a walk.
Ellis Burks was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Mark Bellhorn was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
Doug Mirabelli was 2 for 3 with a walk, a home run and two total rbis.
Scott Williamson got the first two outs of the eighth inning.
Alan Embree got the final out of the eighth inning.
Keith Foulke pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and an error.
Pokey Reese was 0 for 4 with an error.
The Ugly:
Johnny Damon was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error but hit a home run.
Kevin Millar was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Honorable Mention:
Gabe Kapler played right field in the ninth inning.
Final Thoughts:
Fox thought they were being funny by making fun of Johnny Damon's hair and showing all those anti-Red Sox graphics throughout the game but the Sox shoved it up their keister tonight. Wakefield dominated the Yankees in two starts in last year's ALCS (but Fox doesn't want you to know that) and he had another great start tonight. The offense knocked around Javier Vazquez early and it was good to see Doug Mirabelli join the party after not playing for eight days. That eighth inning could have gotten a lot worse after Manny casually dropped the ball and Williamson couldn't find the plate, kudos to Alan Embree for making quick work of Matsui. Keith Foulke once again did the job and has been worth every penny so far. The Sox have to fight not only the Yankees but Fox itself moving forward apparently, they should use the ammo for tomorrow afternoon. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Yankees when Curt Schilling (1-0) gets the ball against Mike Mussina of New York. The game begins at 1:20 PM at Fenway Park.
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