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No drama, just a blowout.
Bill Mueller hit a three-run shot for one of Boston's four homers, and the Red Sox routed New York 11-2 Friday night in their first game at Yankee Stadium since last year's thrilling AL championship series.
``That was the tone that we've got to set,'' Kevin Millar said.
Derek Lowe took a shutout into the seventh for Boston, which blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning of Game 7 last October and lost on Aaron Boone's homer in the 11th.
But the bitter rivalry has belonged to Boston since. The Red Sox have won four of five meetings this season, including three of four at Fenway Park last weekend.
``It's great -- as many wins off them as we can get,'' Johnny Damon said. ``We know they're going to be there at the end, so we're going to enjoy this while we can. Hopefully, they don't hit for a while longer, and we can get out of town before they do.''
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It was an embarrassing night for New York -- Alex Rodriguez got booed, Bubba
Crosby slipped while tracking a fly ball and Gary Sheffield dropped a popup.
``It was bad. We didn't play well at all,'' said Derek Jeter, who went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. ``It's been a rough beginning for a lot of people.''
Millar and Mark Bellhorn hit consecutive homers, and Manny Ramirez connected late for the Red Sox, who again roughed up Jose Contreras (0-2). Bellhorn had three hits, and Damon reached base four times.
The $183 million Yankees fell to 8-9 this season.
``We're just going to have to fight our way out of this,'' manager Joe Torre said. ``We haven't played up to our potential. We will do it. It's just a matter of getting that confident feeling.''
After going 1-for-17 in Boston last weekend, Rodriguez had two hits but was booed after a pair of groundouts.
``That's fine, I like it. Maybe it's a little wake-up call,'' Rodriguez said. ``They want to cheer you. You've just got to give them reason to.''
AP - Apr 23, 10:50 pm EDT
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Lowe (2-1) left after allowing Hideki Matsui's two-run homer in the seventh,
but Mike Timlin and Lenny DiNardo shut the door the rest of the way.
It was a big outing for Lowe, who lost twice in the 2003 ALCS and was roughed up by the Yankees last Sunday.
``It was a game I looked forward to pitching. Against this lineup, you've got to have more than one pitch, and I was very confident that a better game was going to show up,'' Lowe said. ``When you pitch in this stadium, especially in a Red Sox uniform, you're always going to be excited.''
Boston went ahead in the second on Bellhorn's two-out RBI single, and he homered in the fourth following Millar's solo shot.
After Pokey Reese singled and Damon walked, Torre pulled Contreras, who was booed loudly by the sellout crowd of 55,001 as he trotted off the mound.
``To be honest, it doesn't bother me because I don't notice it. But it's their right. They're not getting the results they expect,'' Contreras said through a translator.
Mueller greeted Donovan Osborne with a three-run drive to left, making it 6-0.
David Ortiz added an RBI double in the sixth, and two runs scored in the seventh when Crosby slipped on the wet grass while tracking Reese's deep drive to center, which was scored a double. Damon followed with an RBI single off Scott Proctor.
Ramirez hit his fourth homer of the year in the eighth off rookie Alex Graman.
The Yankees outbid Boston to sign Contreras before last season, but he's been awful against the Red Sox, going 0-3 with an 18.00 ERA in four career appearances.
There was talk that he tipped his pitches against Boston last weekend, so Contreras adjusted his delivery. He didn't fare any better.
The Cuban right-hander threw 93 pitches in 3 1-3 innings, only 47 for strikes. He has a 10.64 ERA after three starts, allowing 17 hits and nine walks in 11 innings.
``I'm very upset with myself. I'm very bothered because I haven't been able to prove the kind of pitcher I am,'' Contreras said.
The Red Sox have scored at least 10 runs in four of their last eightregular-season games at Yankee Stadium.
Notes
The Bleacher Creatures also chanted Boone's name when they rattled off the
roll call of Yankees starters in the first inning. ... RHP Javier Vazquez will
pitch on three days' rest for the Yankees against Pedro Martinez on Sunday.
... Boston LHP Brad Thomas, acquired from Minnesota on Wednesday, was placed
on the 15-day disabled list with a strained elbow. ... Damon saved at least
one run in the first with a sliding catch of Sheffield's liner to center. ...
Boston stole three bases in the first four innings against Contreras and backup
C John Flaherty, who also grounded into two double plays. Jorge Posada got the
night off. ... DiNardo pitched a perfect ninth in his major leaguedebut.