Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 4/5

Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox hits a two run homer in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees on April 4, 2010 during Opening Night at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Boston Red Sox opened up their 2010 season on Sunday night against the New York Yankees and came away with a 9-7 win. They had to rally twice from deficits of 5-1 and 7-5 to get the job done.

Josh Beckett started for the Red Sox and looked like the Beckett of old, for the first five batters. Then he gave up four straight hits including back-to-back home runs by Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson. He would later give up three more runs.

Beckett would last just 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks with just one strikeout.

The problem for Beckett was the fact that he had no command of his breaking ball. And when you have to rely primarily on your fast ball against the Yankees, you’re going to get knocked around a bit.

No worries though as it’s just the first start of the season for Beckett and with pitching guru John Farrell around, you know they’ll get the kinks worked out before his next start.

Scott Schoeneweis made his Red Sox debut and was excellent as bailed out Beckett in the 5th. He was perfect in an inning of work with a strikeout. Ramon Ramirez struggled out of the gate as he allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in 1/3 of an inning.

Hideki Okajima picked up the vulture win as he went an inning allowing a hit and a walk. Daniel Bard walked one in his inning and Jonathan Papelbon allowed one hit in the 9th but still picked up his first save of the season.

For Papelbon, it was an important time on the mound as he the last time he was on the Fenway bump, he was torched by the Angels in the ALDS. Much different from heart attack Papelbon of last year.

The question entering the season for the Red Sox offense was would they be able to score runs. Well they showed against a good Yankees pitching staff, they could put up nine.

Kevin Youkilis came out swinging as he was 3-for-4 (two doubles and a triple) with three RBIs while Dustin Pedroia had two hits including a 2-run homer that tied the game at 7 in the 7th inning.

Newcomers Adrian Beltre, Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro went a combined 5-for-9 with Scutaro and Cameron having two hits each. Beltre and Scutaro added RBIs.

In the feel good moment of the night, Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland was introduced to the crowd during one of the inning breaks. He recently underwent brain surgery and is back in the area rehabbing.

The Red Sox and Yankees are off today but will pick it back up on Tuesday when Jon Lester and A.J. Burnett will square off at 7:10 p.m.

Keep reading for today’s links.

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Five Things We Learned: The new guys can hit, too [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

First blood [Boston Globe]

Champs wounded, but how badly? [Boston Globe]

Youkilis comes out swinging [Boston Globe]

Trio made some positive first impressions [Boston Globe]

Martinez basks in Fenway glow again [Boston Globe]

Beckett didn’t have command performance [Boston Globe]

Sox come roaring in [Boston Globe]

Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia take offense [Boston Herald]