It wasn't enough. Chien-Ming Wang pitched even better in the Yankees' 4-1 win over the Sox, throwing a two-hitter in Joe Girardi's introduction to this rivalry as manager, the former catcher succeeding Torre after the Yankees went a sixth straight season without winning the World Series.
The Yankees may have some problems in the future with the Sox - the front page of yesterday's New York Post blared the news that a construction worker/Sox fan buried a Sox T-shirt in the poured concrete of the new Yankee Stadium, hoping it will work some Sox-centric magic when the joint opens next season. But in Fenway Park last night, no one in the crowd of 37,624 brought magic clothing, burnt offerings, or any other kind of hoodoo strong enough to protect Mike Timlin.
Timlin, who started pitching professionally when Buchholz was 3, began his 2008 season with a bang - the sound of Jason Giambi's home run landing in the camera well in center field, breaking a 1-all tie in the seventh, right after Buchholz had parted (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R).
"It was terrible, absolutely terrible," Timlin said. "I came back and pitched terribly. It wasn't how I was looking forward to starting 2008. I made bad pitches. You can't get major league hitters out with pitches right down the middle."
Timlin opened the season on the disabled list after sustaining a freakish injury in spring training, cutting the ring finger of his pitching hand while fielding a ground ball, and was just activated last night, Bryan Corey having been designated for assignment the night before.
The old man of the Sox staff - he turned 42 a month ago - made two rehab appearances in Triple A Pawtucket and breezed. But last night, after running the count full to Giambi, he missed badly with a fastball, the pitch thigh high and directly in Giambi's swing path. Timlin went as limp as the center-field flag when Giambi's ball carried over the fence to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
