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A SEASON IN THE DRINK
(CHICKEN & BEER) ...
The Sox
get their first win
on Opening Day at
Fenway
April 8, 2011 ...
The gates to Fenway Park swung open just as the Red Sox were
finishing up batting practice. As eager fans streamed in to see the
green grass that signals the end of a long winter. Dustin Pedroia
homered and drove in three runs and the bullpen was near perfect for
four innings as the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 9-6, before a crowd of
37,178.
The 100th
home opener at Fenway Park started in solemn fashion with a tribute to former GM
Lou Gorman, who died last week. Then Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski threw out
the ceremonial first pitch to Jason Varitek, two captains connecting as the
crowd cheered. Boos were next as John Lackey allowed two runs in the first
inning.
But the Red
Sox scored more runs than they had in their previous four games combined,
knocking Yankees starter Phil Hughes out after two innings. Manager Terry
Francona shook up the lineup, dropping slumping Jacoby Ellsbury from first to
eighth. Carl Crawford hit leadoff for the first time since 2007. Adrian Gonzalez
hit third and that moved up Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and J.D. Drew.
Crawford, who would prefer not to lead off, was 0 for 5. But the Sox had a
season-best 12 hits.
They needed
all of that offense as Lackey allowed six runs on seven hits, two walks, and a
hit batter in five innings. After the two runs in the first, the Yankees scored
single runs in the next four innings. Lackey's earned run average is now 15.58.
Pedroia
started the Sox on the road to redemption with a solo shot to left in the first
inning, the third straight year he has homered in the home opener. The Sox sent
nine batters to the plate in the second inning and scored five runs. Singles by
Drew, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Ellsbury loaded the bases. Marco Scutaro
grounded into a force at third, driving in one run. With two out, Pedroia
slapped a two-run single to center and advanced to second on a throwing error by
Curtis Granderson. Gonzalez followed with an RBI single. After Youkilis walked,
Ortiz drove in another with a single to center.
After the
Yankees tied the game at 6 in the fifth, Saltalamacchia hammered an RBI double
off Bartolo Colon. In the seventh, Gonzalez bunted for a single against the
defensive shift, Ortiz moved him to third with an opposite-field double, and
Drew drove them both in with a single to right.
Former
Yankee Alfredo Aceves, called up earlier in the day from Pawtucket, pitched a
scoreless sixth inning, getting Derek Jeter to ground into a double play with
two runners on. Bobby Jenks, Bard, and Papelbon followed. The bullpen quartet
allowed one hit and two walks. Only one Yankee advanced as far as second base.
After
Papelbon retired the Yankees in order in the ninth inning, striking out Brett
Gardner and Jeter, the players enjoyed the postgame handshake ritual to the
fullest with Ortiz hugging every uniform in sight.
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