The only game of spring training in which the Sox face the Yankees got off to an unusual start. New Red Sox pitchers Hideki Okajima and Daisuke Matsuzaka made their way to home plate to meet New York star Hideki Matsui. The huge media entourage (mainly Japanese media, from New York, Boston and Tokyo) went wild for the moment of hand shaking and traditional Japanese bowing. After that had been done, it was time to play ball.
On the mound for the Sox was Timmy W. who again showed a rough first inning letting in 3runs, but seemed to sort it out in the second and third innings. Starting for the Yankees was Carl Pavano who has had a tough time of getting to play for the bombers, but looked impressive and a contender for one of their starter spots this season.
To note, JD Drew hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform in the sixth inning off of Darrell Rasner. The Yankees took the early lead however, even after leaving A Rod and Jeter at home. Only the first four of the Yanks lineup are predicted to be there on opening day, so for half of the time, they could have been playing the Tampa Yankees... but you wouldn't have known. Some great plays by Yankees farm players made a game of it while the Sox sent out their predicted opening day lineup (with Wake & Dougie). Anyways, the Sox were able to pick up three in the 7th to win the game 7 to 5.
That's all that is important really. It would have been awful to go into the season knowing that AAA New York Yankees beat you, so that's that done. Time to move onto the next game. Toronto...grrr... the team that beat us to 2nd.
1 comment:
That Yankees game was great. I thought Daisuke would have been taller... At least taller than Matsui! Oh well, I bet he still strikes him out.
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