Red Sox 9, Yankees 7: Pedroia, Youkilis Lead Boston To Win In 2010 Season Opener

More reaction and plenty of opportunity to discuss this game at our team blogs, Pinstripe Alley and Over The Monster.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Dustin Pedroia delivered the tying two-run homer in the seventh inning and Kevin Youkilis scored on a passed ball later in the frame as Boston rallied to beat the New York Yankees, 9-7, in the 2010 Major League Baseball season-opener.

Youkilis had three hits, including a two-run triple, and Red Sox newcomer Adrian Beltre knocked in two runs. Pedroia added a run-scoring single in the eighth inning to finish with three RBI.

The Yankees, coming off a World Series victory over Philadelphia last Fall, failed to hold a 5-1 lead. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers as part of a three-team blockbuster during the offseason, hit back-to-back homers in the second inning. Posada ended with three hits and two RBI.

Boston starter Josh Beckett was lifted after allowing eight hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings, while New York’s CC Sabathia was removed after giving up six hits and five runs in 5 1/3 frames. Beckett, a 17-game winner in 2009, had one strikeout, while Sabathia, a 19-game victor last season, fanned four batters.

Hideki Okajima (1-0) finished out the top of the seventh to get the win. Jonathan Papelbon notched the save by retiring Granderson on a groundout with the tying run at the plate.

Chan Ho Park (0-1) failed to hold the lead in the seventh inning and suffered the loss in the opener of the three-game series.