NEW YORK (REUTERS) — The Boston Red Sox cracked three home runs and Tim Wakefield allowed two hits over six innings to help defeat the New York Yankees 5-2 in Game One of the American League Championship Series Wednesday.
Wakefield was thrilled to be given the chance to start at Yankee Stadium, and he responded in style.
“It was unbelievable,” he told reporters. “I feel blessed to be a part of such a great team.” The Red Sox had little time to prepare for the matchup with their No. 1 rivals. After defeating the A’s in Game Four of the opening-round playoff series at Fenway Park Sunday, Boston flew to Oakland for Game Five, then returned home straight after to face New York.
Wakefield spoke for the team when he said, “I told my friends not to call me tomorrow, I’m sleeping in.”
David Ortiz put the Sox on the board when he took Yankees starter Mike Mussina (0-2) deep with a man aboard in the fourth inning.
Ortiz fell behind 0-2, then ran the count to 3-2 before tagging Mussina, who served up 21 homers over the season.
Todd Walker homered in the next inning to plate the deciding run. His blast to deep right was originally called foul, but home-plate umpire Tim McClelland overruled, saying the ball had nudged the foul pole.
“We thought it was fair all the way,” said Boston skipper Grady Little.
Yankees manager Joe Torre was not sure. “We had one of those in Baltimore this year,” he said. “I’d like to say it’s unfair, but we benefited from it earlier.”
Manny Ramirez added another homer a couple of batters later to make it 4-0, his ball barely clearing the fence.
The Sox picked up their fifth and final run in the seventh inning off reliever Jeff Nelson, Kevin Millar skimming a ball off Derek Jeter’s glove and into left field to plate Ramirez.
After Wakefield walked Jason Giambi and Bernie Williams to start the bottom of the seventh, he was replaced by Alan Embree.
Jorge Posada doubled off Embree to score Giambi, with Williams coming home on Hideki Matsui’s sacrifice.
Scott Williamson finished up for Boston. He struck out Giambi, forced Williams to ground out and then struck out Posada.
Game Two is in New York Thursday.
