Yankee Killers Strike Again 7-3 (5/1)

Ortiz Blast, Wakefield's Pitching Do In Bombers Again

Many of the faces may have changed from last season's Boston Red Sox, but one thing hasn't. David Ortiz and Tim Wakefield dominated the Yankees once again in the team's first meeting of the season in Fenway Park. Ortiz capped a four run eighth inning rally with a 3-run blast into the bullpen in right-center. On a night when many fly balls were knocked down by the wind, Ortiz mashed a Mike Myers 3-2 pitch deep into the night. The Red Sox had taken the lead moments earlier when Mark Loretta singled through the middle to score pinch-runner Willie Harris from second.

Aaron Small (0-1) was immediately thrown into the fray after being activated from the disabled list earlier in the day. Small lost his first game as a Yankee after issuing a one-out walk to Alex Cora and hitting Kevin Youkilis. Joe Torre signaled for Tanyon Sturtze to face Loretta. With Robinson Cano holding Harris, who had replaced Cora, close to second, Loretta bounced one back up the middle on the shortstop side of the bag. Cano, who was scurrying back to his position as the pitch was delivered, came up short as he lunged for the ball. Myers then came into the ball game in the situation that he was wanted for most. Unfortunately for the Yankees, he could do no better than his predecessors.

The Yankee bats didn't fair well against Wakefield's knuckler on a windy, chilly night at Fenway. Though he didn't figure in the decision, Wakefield limited the Yankees to just 4 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings. After Ortiz singled in the first run of the game in the first inning, the Yankees rallied in the fourth. A Derek Jeter single was followed by a pair of walks to Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez to load the bases. Hideki Matsui ground out tied the game at one and two batters later Cano singled to center to put the Yankees up 3-1.

Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang struggled out of the gate once again. He threw 40 pitches in the first inning alone as the Red Sox scored one and left the bases loaded. Wang settled in over the next three innings, but the Sox came back at him again in the 5th. Cora led off with a bunt single and Youkilis followed with a single to right. With one out Ortiz singled to left for the second time, loading the bases. Manny Ramirez lined a pitch over the outstretched glove of first baseman Miguel Cairo to cut he lead to 3-2. With the infield back looking to turn two, Trot Nixon grounded out to Cairo whose only play was to first. Loretta came across on the play to tie things up at three. It would stay that way until the scripted ending remained the same.

Notes

Johnny Damon's much awaited return to Boston was uneventful for the former caveman. He went 0-4 and didn't hit the ball with any authority. His first time up, he was serenaded with boos, but also received a fair amount of applause to which he tipped his helmet. He was greeted in the outfield in the bottom of the inning with a shower of paper money.

To make room on the 25 man roster for Aaron Small,Matt Smith was sent down to Columbus. Smith had not allowed a base runner in 2 1-3 innings over 3 games. He record one strike out.

Gary Sheffield arrived at Fenway Park with his left wrist heavily taped. It's unlikely he will play Tuesday night's finale.

When the Yankees got word that Boston was looking to reacquire Doug Mirabelli from San Diego they made an attempt at him too. The move was done solely to keep Wakefield from getting his personal catcher. With the game starting later than usual, 7:15, due to it being televised nationally on ESPN, Mirabelli was able to make it from the airport in time to start the game. His impact was felt immediately as he did not commit a passed ball. Josh Bard had 10 passed balls already this season, necessitating the re-acquisition of Mirabelli.

Derek Jeter made a rare base running error in the top of the eighth. After drawing a one-out walk, Jeter rounded second base to far on Giambi's ground out to first. Jeter actually snuck his left arm around Alex Cora and appeared to be safe on the play, but the view of 2nd base umpire Mike Everitt was blocked on the play and he called Jeter our. Both Jeter and Joe Torre argued to no avail.