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| Yankees News for April 4 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 4 2006, 07:51 AM (14 Views) | |
| Giambino | Apr 4 2006, 07:51 AM Post #1 |
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Yankees News for April 4 --------------------- Click here for links to full articles then click READ MORE under Yankees news for April 4: http://www.yankeemania.com --------------------- A-Rod's slam pops A's Zito April 4 New York Daily News: This year's Yankee lineup is supposed to challenge history's best - and last night, in their first game of the season, the Bombers put their greatest assets on display in a 15-2 victory over the A's at the Coliseum. Alex Rodriguez hit a grand slam. Hideki Matsui crushed a three-run shot. Every single Yankee starter scored at least one run and that was more than enough considering Randy Johnson's dominant form on the mound. The second inning was when the Yanks' juggernaut found its gear. A-Rod's blast over the left field fence capped a seven-run frame that featured two walks, three singles, a fielder's choice and the monstrous shot from Rodriguez that appeared to disintegrate as soon as it collided with the reigning AL MVP's bat. "I felt unusually calm and poised," A-Rod said. "I'm usually more excited on Opening Day. I really enjoyed myself out there. I'm proud of the way the guys went out and swung the bats." The hanger to Rodriguez was Oakland starter Barry Zito's final pitch as manager Ken Macha mercifully pulled him from the beating. Zito (0-1) was supposed to stand up to Johnson in a duel of skilled lefthanders, but instead got pummeled and punished for mixing fits of wildness (he walked four) with pitches that were either too slow or too straight. He gave up seven runs and four hits in 1-1/3 innings - good for a 47.25 ERA and the shortest outing of his career - and staggered off the mound as the 35,007 fans moaned. Johnson (1-0), meanwhile, rolled through seven crisp innings, with a solo homer by Frank Thomas serving as his only blemish. The Big Unit, who grew up in nearby Livermore, said earlier this spring that pitching here will always be special because it was the last place his father saw him pitch before passing away in 1992. Johnson cruises in grand opening April 4 Newark Star-Ledger: When the Yankees signed Johnny Damon in December, pundits began throwing around speculation they could score 1,000 runs. But manager Joe Torre has his priorities in order. "As many runs as we have the potential to score," Torre said before last night's season opener, "it's still going to come down to pitching." That is, unless the Yankees do every night what they did to the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum. Alex Rodriguez belted a second-inning grand slam off Barry Zito as the Yankees rolled to a 15-2 victory, collecting 17 hits in a matchup of teams generally considered division favorites. It was the Yankees' most runs in an opener since a 19-1 defeat of the Washington Senators on April 13, 1955. "It's probably as good an offense as we've ever seen," A's general manager Billy Beane said before the game. "That offense alone is going to keep them in so many games. They have, in my opinion, the greatest player of this generation, in Alex Rodriguez, then you back him up with (Gary) Sheffield and Jason (Giambi), who was our MVP, and he hits fifth or sixth. That's a pretty formidable group. Yankee Rippers April 4 New York Post: A ROD SLAMS A'S IN OPENING NIGHT ROUT Yankees 15 Athletics 2 OAKLAND - Add clairvoyant to Billy Beane's many talents. Talking about playing the Yankees on Opening Day, the Oakland GM compared it to school kids not easing into their day. "It's like having calculus the first period of the day," Beane said. "Then the bell rings and it's over." Last night at McAfee Coliseum, the Yankees rang the A's bell early and often, scoring seven runs in the second inning on the way to a 15-2 victory that was witnessed by a crowd of 35,077. Alex Rodriguez hit a grand slam, the 12th of his career, in that Yankee second. Hideki Matsui poked a three-run homer in the fourth, had four hits, drew two walks and drove in four runs. "It was a lot of fun," said A-Rod. "The big thing was, most times you get a seven-run lead, you relax and let the other team get into it. We didn't do that - we had a blue-collar approach." So, for one night the Yankees lived up to the hype that started immediately when Johnny Damon was added to the lead-off spot. Damon, in his first Yankee game, went 3-for-7 and scored twice as the Yankees banged out 17 hits. "Tonight was a special night," said Damon. "We were seeing the ball well, taking pitches and finding holes. We were getting the big hit. Everything clicked well. Hopefully, you do it every single night, but it's tough to do. It was amazing." Every Yankee Does His Part in Opening Rout April 4 New York Times: It will not always be this easy, of course. Baseball is not like that. But opening day is for dreamers, and the promise of a game like this keeps George Steinbrenner warm every winter. The Yankees and their galaxy of stars inflicted a merciless beating on a very good team Monday night. They rode an Alex Rodriguez grand slam to a 15-2 victory over Barry Zito and the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum. Rodriguez, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, bats cleanup in a lineup that, for one night, was just as dangerous as advertised. The new leadoff man, Johnny Damon, said on Sunday it might be one of the best ever. As the saying goes, it’s not bragging if you back it up. “Tonight was a special night,” said Damon, who was 3 for 7 with two doubles. “It just seemed like we were seeing the ball well, taking pitches, finding holes for base hits, getting the big hit. Everything just clicked very well.” Damon struck out looking in his first Yankees at-bat, but everything else went according to plan. Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui homered. Randy Johnson worked seven stress-free innings for the victory. The Yankees clogged the bases nearly every inning. The A’s are a trendy World Series pick this season, but even their general manager, Billy Beane, sensed this would be a tough assignment. Speaking of the Yankees with reporters before the game, Beane said, “It’s like having Calculus first period. You are not real happy when the alarm goes off.” Maybe Zito should have slept in. He came into the game with a personal five-game losing streak against the Yankees, and he pitched warily; even his third strike to Damon seemed to be off the plate. The Yankees did not score in the first inning, but they made Zito throw 23 pitches, and 14 were balls. His wildness would quickly catch up to him. “With 23 pitches, we knew we were going to get him,” Rodriguez said. “In the third or the fifth, it was just a matter of time.” They knocked out Zito even sooner than that. In the second, he walked Matsui and Jorge Posada, making it four walks in five hitters. Bernie Williams made Zito pay with a single to left center that scored Matsui with the first run. The Yankees want to play little ball when they can this season, and Robinson Cano dropped a bunt down the third base line. Catcher Jason Kendall picked it up before it had a chance to roll foul, and he tossed to third baseman Eric Chavez, who was retreating to the bag. --------------------- Click here for links to full articles then click READ MORE under Yankees news for April 4: http://www.yankeemania.com --------------------- |
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