[新聞] Red-hot A-Rod awaits Red Sox

[xiemark (aisinjuro)]

 RED-HOT A-ROD AWAITS RED SOX

By GEORGE KING

April 20, 2007 -- Only because it was paid for did the Yankees take a
plane to Boston last night. They easily could have hopped on Alex
Rodriguez's back and headed for Fenway Park, where the Yankees and Red
Sox open a three-game series tonight.

Though the first of 19 games between the blood rivals signifies the real
beginning of the baseball season, it's impossible to ignore what
Rodriguez has done in the opening 14 games of the season. Because of his
10 homers, 26 RBIs and .351 batting average, the Yankees are only one
game behind the Red Sox in the AL East, instead of six and fading.

Never in the history of Yankees-Red Sox have the Yankees marched into
New England's living room with a hotter hitter than A-Rod.

Tonight, Curt Schilling gets the first chance to cool off Rodriguez.
Then it's Josh Beckett tomorrow and Japanese sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka
on Sunday evening.

"It's always exciting in Boston regardless of who we play before or
after," Derek Jeter said following Rodriguez's three-run homer in the
ninth yesterday, which carried the Yankees to an 8-6 win over the
Indians at Yankee Stadium. "They make a big deal of it and it's a good
atmosphere."

Even with Rodriguez's bulging muscles, the Yankees don't pull into
Fenway at full strength. Neophyte starters Jeff Karstens and Chase
Wright might want to employ earplugs tomorrow and Sunday when they jump
into the deep end of the pool.

"It will be a test," Joe Torre said. "This game is all about being
tested."

While Karstens and Wright will get their first taste of sport's fiercest
rivalry, Mariano Rivera will anticipate the opening batch of
obscenities.

"The more they hate me, the more I love them," Rivera said. "I like
Boston. I like pitching there."

This will be the Yankees' first visit to Fenway since they buried the
Red Sox's postseason hopes last August by sweeping a five-game series.
The Yankees went into that series off their worst game in years, a 12-2
loss to the Orioles.

It will be interesting to see if Rodriguez can maintain his torrid start
under the intense spotlight in front of crowds that loathe him.

Pettitte's re-entry into the rivalry is the least of the Yankees'
worries. Ideally, they would have like to have ace Chien-Ming Wang and
Mike Mussina available to battle Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. Yet,
Wang and Mussina are on the disabled list. That leaves Karstens (six
major league starts) and Wright (one major league start) to face Beckett
and Matsuzaka.

"I have no idea if it's different," said Pettitte, who is returning to
the rivalry after a three-year hiatus in Houston. "I guess I am going to
find out."

The Yankees have their fingers crossed that Pettitte pitches to his
track record at Fenway, where he is 5-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 games
(nine starts). Though it's entirely possible that Karstens or Wright
dial a gem, that's not the way to bet.

"It's always difficult when we play Boston because it's always hyped
up," Pettitte said. "I have always liked to pitch there."

Pettitte's numbers against Ramirez and Ortiz don't suggest comfort.
Ortiz is hitting .424 (25-for-59) with three homers, Ramirez is at .409
(9-for-22) with a homer.

As if this weekend needed more juice, Matsuzaka makes his rivalry debut
on national television Sunday night. Until then, the Yankees will have
seen Matsuzaka, who cost the Red Sox $103 million, only on tape.

"It will be interesting to see him," Johnny Damon said. "He has been
pitching well, but they haven't been scoring runs for him. Hopefully,
that will continue Sunday."

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