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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 17, 2009

Indians spoil Yankees' home debut

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

New York's CC Sabathia pitched 5° innings against Cleveland yesterday and had a no-decision in the Yankees' home opener.

KATHY WILLENS | Associated Press

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NEW YORK — Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and other stars from the New York Yankees' famous pinstriped past would have been embarrassed.

After an 85-year run in a stadium that was home to 26 World Series champions, the Yankees opened baseball's fanciest and priciest ballpark yesterday with a humiliating 10-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

"It felt like we disappointed quite a few people today," Johnny Damon said.

Fans in the sellout crowd of 48,271 and players alike bubbled about unprecedented amenities on a picture-perfect sunny afternoon. New York's hitters then fizzled and its bullpen came apart in the formal debut of the new Yankee Stadium, a $1.5 billion monument to the Yankees' wealth and power.

Jhonny Peralta broke a 1-all tie in the seventh with a two-run double off Jose Veras, and Grady Sizemore hit a grand slam into the right-field seats off Damaso Marte.

By the time Victor Martinez's solo homer capped the nine-run inning, angry spectators, some who paid up to $2,625 list per ticket, started heading for the exits.

"It's not how you want to start a new stadium, but one game is not going to make the history of this Yankee Stadium," manager Joe Girardi said.

CC Sabathia, pitching in pinstripes for the first time since signing a $161 million, seven-year contract, allowed an RBI double to Kelly Shoppach in the fourth just after third baseman Cody Ransom threw out Peralta at the plate on Ben Francisco's grounder. But Sabathia left after 122 pitches and 5 2/3 innings in his first start against his former team

ANGELS 5, MARINERS 1

Joe Saunders (2-1) allowed a run on three hits in seven innings and Mike Napoli hit a go-ahead, two-run single in a five-run sixth to lead visiting Los Angeles over Seattle. Mariner Ichiro Suzuki broke the record for hits by a Japanese player with the 3,082nd of his career.

WHITE SOX 3, RAYS 2

John Danks (1-0) allowed one hit and had a shutout until Carlos Pena homered with one out in the sixth, and Jermaine Dye hit a two-run homer to lead Chicago over Tampa Bay.

BLUE JAYS 9, TWINS 2

Roy Halladay (3-0) allowed eight hits and struck out eight over seven innings, and Marco Scutaro hit a two-run shot in a seven-run seventh highlighted by Kevin Millar's grand slam as visiting Toronto rolled past Minnesota.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 7, CUBS 4

Chris Duncan atoned for a dropped fly ball that led to a run with a two-run homer, Yadier Molina broke a 4-all tie with an RBI single in the sixth and Duncan followed with a run-scoring single to lift visiting St. Louis over Chicago.

PADRES 6, METS 5

Chase Headley tied a career high with four hits and Jake Peavy (2-1) settled down after allowing Carlos Delgado's three-run homer in the first as visiting San Diego held on to beat New York for its sixth win in seven games.

NATIONALS 8, PHILLIES 2

Adam Dunn hit one of Washington's four homers, Shairon Martis (1-0) gave up two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, and the host Nationals beat Philadelphia after starting the season with seven losses.

MARLINS 6, BRAVES 2

Cody Ross had three hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer, and Anibal Sanchez (1-0) gave up eight hits and two runs in six innings to help Florida finish off its first three-game sweep in Atlanta.

ASTROS 6, PIRATES 3

Lance Berkman made up for an earlier missed bases-loaded opportunity with a go-ahead, three-run homer in the sixth inning, and Hunter Pence added a solo shot as visiting Houston won the final two games of the three-game series.

DODGERS 7, GIANTS 2

Rafael Furcal hit a leadoff home run, Eric Stults (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, and host Los Angeles won its fifth straight and handed San Francisco its sixth loss in a row.