The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Yankee killer David Ortiz led off with a double into the right field corner. Hideki Matsui robbed Kevin Millar of a two run homer by jumping over the left field wall but Jason Varitek grounded out to short. Jay Payton made his Red Sox debut by getting a base hit to left to score Ortiz, putting Boston on top. Bill Mueller walked but Mark Bellhorn took strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
The Yankees wasted no time answering in the bottom of the second as Hideki Matsui led off with a base hit in-between Manny & Damon. Jorge Posada popped up to right but Jason Giambi singled Matsui to third. Bernie Williams drove home Matsui with a sac fly to left to tie the game but Renteria made a nice stab to force Giambi at second on a grounder by Womack to end the inning. The Yankees had tied the game 1-1.
Damon hit a routine grounder to Giambi to start the top of the third but Giambi booted it for an error. Renteria banged into a double play and Manny flied out to center to end the inning. The Yankees struck back in the bottom of the third as Jeter struck a double to left to start. A-Rod struck out swinging but Sheffield doubled to center to score Jeter with the go-ahead run then moved to third on the Sierra grounder to short. Matsui got a base hit to center to score Sheffield and Posada singled off the glove of Renteria. Giambi was plunked on an 0-2 to load the bases and Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace sprinted to the mound to let David know that Metal Gear Solid was one of the best games of 1998. Williams scored on a balk by Wells. Williams struck out swinging to end the inning but the Yankees iced the game 4-1.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Ortiz took strike three to start. Millar popped up to short but Varitek hit a ground rule double down the third base line when a fan touched the ball. Payton grounded out to short to end the inning. Wells got in trouble again in the bottom of the fourth as Womack dumped a base hit to center to start. Jeter flied out to right but A-Rod moved Womack to third with a base hit to left. Sheffield hit a bullet but to Renteria and Sierra grounded out to short to end the inning.
Mueller grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth but Bellhorn doubled to left. Damon struck out swinging and Renteria grounded out to short to end the inning. The Yankees knocked out Wells in the bottom of the fifth although Matsui struck out swinging to start. Posada doubled over the head of Damon, Giambi was plunked and Williams walked to load the bases and chase Wells. Not the best debut for Wells who allowed 4 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Lefty specialist Mike Myers came in to get Womack to bang into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the sixth as Sox analyst Don Orsillo mentioned the last time Randy Johnson started an opener against the Red Sox. Manny took strike three to start and Ortiz grounded out to short. Millar walked and Varitek hit a broken bat base hit over the head of Giambi to put runners at the corners. Payton grounded into a force to end the inning. Blaine Neal made his Red Sox debut in the bottom of the sixth and Jeter walked to start. Jeter stole second and A-Rod got a base hit off the chest of Damon. He bobbled the ball which allowed Jeter to score and advance A-Rod to second. A-Rod moved to third on the fly out to left by Sheffield and that was it for Neal. Alan Embree came in and Sierra doubled down the left field line to score A-Rod with another run. Matsui hit one up the elevator shaft but Giambi drew a walk. Giambi lined out to left to end the inning with the Yankees up 6-1.
The Yankees knew the game was well in hand and brought in Tino Martinez for Giambi and Tanyon Sturtze to pitch the top of the seventh. Mueller took strike three, Bellhorn whiffed and Damon grounded out to first to end the inning. Mike Timlin came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Williams struck out swinging to start. Womack beat out an infield single to short and stole second, but Jeter grounded out to third. A-Rod flied out to right to end the inning.
Sturtze cruised in the top of the eighth as Renteria grounded out to third to start. Manny flied out to center and Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning. Matt Mantei made his Red Sox debut by throwing up on himself in the bottom of the eighth. Sheffield walked to start but Sierra flied out to center. Matsui hit a home run all the way to Brooklyn to increase the lead but Posada took strike three. Tino Martinez got a standing O for his first at-bat with the Yankees since 2001 and he drew a walk. Williams walked and that was it for Mantei. Bubba Crosby pinch ran for Williams and John Halama made his Red Sox debut by allowing an infield single to short by Womack to load the bases. Jeter hit a grounder to Halama....right through his legs for an error to score Martinez with another run. Mueller made a great play to rob A-Rod of a hit to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 9-1.
Nothing going right for the Sox
Old buddy Tom Gordon came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Millar walked to start. Varitek singled off the right field wall to move Millar to third and Trot Nixon pinch hit for Payton. Nixon flied out to center to score Millar to cut the lead. Mueller flied out to right but Varitek took second on defensive indifference. Bellhorn struck out swinging to end the game. The Yankees drew first blood on the 2005 season by winning Opening Day 9-2.
Final score
Jackass Wells
Jackass of the Night is David Wells. The de-facto ace with Curt Schilling on the shelf allowed 4 runs and failed to get out of the fifth inning to take the loss.
The Good:
Kevin Millar walked twice in four plate appearances with a run scored.
Jason Varitek was 3 for 4.
Jay Payton was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Trot Nixon drove in a run as a pinch hitter.
Mike Myers got the final two outs of the fifth inning.
Mike Timlin pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bad:
Johnny Damon was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and an error.
Edgar Renteria was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Manny Ramirez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Blaine Neal was charged with 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Matt Mantei was charged with 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning.
John Halama allowed an inherited runner to score and committed an error in 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Bill Mueller was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Mark Bellhorn was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Alan Embree allowed an inherited runner to score in 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
Its a new season and the New York Yankees are steaming mad. They came out firing tonight that they're not going to take their ALCS loss lying down. The Yankees pulled a 1980's Los Angeles Lakers and made roster moves specifically designed to beat the Red Sox. Randy Johnson and Tino Martinez always had good success against Boston and the Yankees got them for that. The Sox couldn't crack Johnson meanwhile all the new additions except Jay Payton flopped in their Red Sox debuts. Renteria, Wells, Halama, Neal and Mantei all failed but it would be unfair to judge them after 1 game with 161 to go. Its a long year and the Sox are going to find out being hunted is a lot tougher than being the hunter. For the first time in 90 years the Sox are the champs and the Yankees are gunning for them. The top 4 hitters for Boston went 1 for 16 with 6 strikeouts, one rbi and an error.....not exactly how you beat Randy Johnson and the Yankees bullpen. Its only Opening Day but the Yankees completely kicked their ass in every facet of the game. The errors by Damon and Halama, the incompetence of Wells and the bullpen...it all added up to Yankee fans delight. They're going to be laughing all the way to tomorrow. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon when Matt Clement makes his Red Sox debut taking on old friend Carl Pavano of the Yankees. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium
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