The Red Sox stressed run prevention and defense as they built their team for this season. In the off-season they picked up some pitching in John Lackey and 3 position players known more for their defense in 3B Adrian Beltre (who I predict will have a breakout year), SS Marco Scutaro, and OF Mike Cameron. Then it began and they looked like the BoSox of old as they won with run production.
Kevin Youkilis had three extra-base hits, Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer and the three new starters brought in for their defense had big nights with the bat as Boston rallied to beat the defending champion New York Yankees 9-7 in the major league opener Sunday night (In Yo Face Franny!! :).
The signings of OF Mike Cameron, 3B Adrian Beltre and SS Marco Scutaro were part of what general manager Theo Epstein called the "run prevention" approach after a poor defensive season by the club last year. But the trio went a combined 5 for 9 with three RBIs. And it's not like they totally suck at the plate, they're actually quite good but all of them played for consistently bad teams so went under the radar.
Beltre, a 2 time gold glove winner, hit 48 homers and drove in 121 RBI's in 2004 with the Dodgers and since then has consistently, with the exception of last year, hit 20+ HR's and 75+ RBI's every year for the Mariners. The 37 year old Cameron, a 3 time gold glove winner, is no slouch at the plate either. And if you think his age is a problem, in the last 4 years Cameron has hit 20+ HR's and 70+ RBI's. What about Scutaro? he's the worst of the 3 at the plate but he has driven in 60 RBI's in each of the past 2 seasons and hit 12 HR's for the Blue Jays last year, not gaudy offensive numbers but he drew 90 walks last year and had an OBP of .379 as well as a batting average of .282 so he does get on base. Though he isn't the most talented of the 3 at the plate he is certainly the most patient.
New York took the early lead but Boston erased a 5-1 deficit against CC Sabathia in the first night opener in the history of 98-year-old Fenway Park. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers (the latter on his 1st at bat as a Yankee) off Josh Beckett to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the second. It was 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh when Scutaro singled and Pedroia tied it with an opening-day homer for the second straight season.Youkilis then doubled with two outs, went to third on Damaso Marte's wild pitch and scored when the left-hander's high pitch bounced off Posada's glove for a passed ball.
Pedroia added an RBI single in the eighth. Hideki Okajima pitched a scoreless inning to get the win and Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth for the save.Yankee newcomer Chan Ho Park recorded just two outs while taking the loss in his Yankees debut. The right-hander was charged with three runs and three hits.
Former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez got a warm greeting when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The real starters didn't do as well. Sabathia gave up five runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings in his second poor opening-day start since he joined New York for a $161 million, seven-year contract. Beckett allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. It was the worst of five Opening Day starts for the right-hander, who had allowed just four runs in 22 2/3 innings in his previous four.
It was a classic see-saw battle between the two bitter rivals and a fantastic way to officially open the season.
Peace and Much Love to Ya :)
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