Let the Murderers' Row comparisons commence.

If the Yankees' lineup is expected to mount a charge at 1,000 runs this season, Monday night was a good start for the Bombers.

New York handed Oakland a 15-2 pounding on Opening Day, using a seven-run second inning to chase Barry Zito from the game in the shortest start of the former Cy Young Award winner's career.

"Tonight was a special night," said Johnny Damon, who went 3-for-7 with two runs scored in his first game as a Yankee. "If this is any indication, this is going to be a fun year."

"You're excited to play Opening Day, and you know that we're capable of doing all the things we saw tonight," said manager Joe Torre. "It was great just to see it happen."

Alex Rodriguez's grand slam was the big blow of the second inning, while Hideki Matsui added a three-run shot as part of a four-run fourth inning. Matsui finished the night with four hits and four RBIs, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances.

Every Yankees starter except Jorge Posada had at least one hit, and even Posada reached base three times. Five different Yankees posted multihit games, while six different players drove in runs.

"I think this is a very unique year for us," Rodriguez said. "We have a hungry bunch. I see a different attitude this year."

Randy Johnson was the beneficiary of the run support, earning his second consecutive Opening Day victory for the Yankees. The Big Unit allowed one run in seven innings, capturing career win No. 264.

The Yankees pounded out 17 hits, took nine walks and had three batters reach base after being hit by pitches. New York started its second-inning outburst with a pair of walks and three singles, going station-to-station while taking a 3-0 lead.

"That's not the formula when you play the Yankees; nine walks and three hit batsmen," said A's manager Ken Macha. "You get behind in counts, they're going to kill you. You're just asking for trouble."

Rodriguez then broke the game open, drilling a grand slam -- the 12th of his career -- to send Zito to the showers. Zito was charged with seven runs while getting just four outs, two shy of his previous career-low.

"We want to understand that the little things can turn into big things," Torre said. "We don't want to get too homer-happy."

"We had a very blue-collar approach today," Rodriguez said. "We took good at-bats; I'm very proud of the way the guys went out and swung the bats."

Frank Thomas put Oakland on the board with a solo homer off Johnson in the second, but the Yankees answered with four more runs in the fourth. Matsui's three-run blast was the highlight of the inning, as he homered on Opening Day for the second time in his four-year career.

"It was a lot of fun," A-Rod said. "Most of the time, when you get out to a seven-run lead, you have a tendency to relax and let the other team get back into it."

Johnson allowed just four singles after the second, easing his way through seven innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk.

"You can't think you're going to cruise through it by any means," said Johnson of pitching with a big lead. "You have to make your pitches and continue to not have big innings develop."

"Everything starts with our pitching," Torre said. "When Randy took control early after we get him the lead, that was big for us."

Jeter and A-Rod tacked on RBI singles in the eighth, giving the Yankees a 15-1 lead. The 15 runs scored tied the Yankees' record for the most runs on Opening Day on the road. The overall record remains at 19, which the Yankees reached in 1955 against the Senators.

"Guys got that second inning going and we kept rolling from there," Damon said. "Putting up runs for Randy Johnson, that's always a good thing. We definitely got him enough today.

"Hopefully we can do this every single night."

And you Sox fans were SOOOOO happy you scored 7 runs yesterday.....

jerseykrs said:

Hey, I was happy Schilling pitched well, Foulke didn't Foulke the whole thing up, Papelbon did a great job, and every starter except Youkilis got at least one hit. The Sox were solid, which was more than I expected, so yes, I was pleased

booyah said:

You make it hard for me to argue with you!!!

HAHAH, just kidding around with you buddy. Foulke isn't a closer. And I'm saying that as a baseball fan, not a sox hater. And Schilling impressed me, because honestly I thought he lost a little on his heat, and his breaking pitches seemed to not break so hard last season. Should be a good season for sure.

Go Yanks! Although after A-rod's grand slam, the game got kinda boring. I'm not a Mets fan, but a close, low-scoring game like theirs was more exciting.

Where's CarrieLee? She needs to celebrate this fantastic Yankees victory with us.

sextonseven said:

HEHEHE, I've already myspace messaged her this morning.