NEW YORK, 18 April 2004 — Tim Wakefield tossed seven solid innings and Bill Mueller homered and had three hits as the Boston Red Sox got some revenge on the New York Yankees with a 6-2 win in their series opener in Boston on Friday.

A sellout crowd at Fenway Park took in the first appearance of the Yankees since last season’s American League championship series, won by the Yankees in seven games on a dramatic homer by Aaron Boone in the 11th inning at Yankee Stadium.

There would be no such dramatics on this night, as Wakefield shut down the Brox Bombers, allowing just two runs — one earned — on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Three relievers combined on another two hitless innings as the Red Sox won the first of 19 regular season games between the two long-time rivals.

In a game filled with sidebar stories and pre-game hype, one the major attractions — AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, who almost was acquired by the Red Sox only to eventually agree to a deal with the Yankees in the off-season — was not a factor. Rodriguez went just one-for-four and did not hit the ball out of the infield. Manny Ramirez, who would have been traded to the Texas Rangers for Rodriguez if it could have been worked out, homered for the Red Sox, as did Doug Mirabelli and Mueller.

Mirabelli wound up with two hits and two RBI for Boston, which had nine hits in the game. Javier Vazquez (1-1) allowed six runs — four earned — on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one. Jorge Posada homered for New York.

In other games, Jody Gerut went five-for-five as the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 10-3. Gerut homered, had three doubles and added a single. Nate Cornejo (1-1) took the loss. C.C. Sabathia picked up his first win in three starts for the Tribe.

Javy Lopez homered to spark a six-run second inning as the Baltimore Orioles thumped the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2. Matt Riley tossed a one-hitter over seven innings for the victory. Miguel Batista lasted four-plus innings and took the loss.Rafael Palmeiro and Jay Gibbons both homered for the Orioles.

In St. Petersburg, Paul Abbott allowed four hits over seven innings as the Tampa Bay Devil Ryas blanked the Chicago White Sox 3-0. Carl Crawford and Julio Lugo both homered for the Devil Rays. Tampa Bay (5-4) is off to its best start in nine years. Lew Ford had a two-run homer and a run-scoring triple, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 9-7 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Juan Gonzalez hit two homers and had four hits in a losing cause for the Royals, while Mike Sweeney and Carlos Beltran also homered.

Despite the offense, the Royals dropped their fourth straight game. Tim Hudson pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings as the Oakland Athletics blanked the Anaheim Angles 3-0.

Hudson allowed six hits and struck out seven to out-duel loser Bartolo Colon. Adam Melhuse, Eric Byrnes and Jermaine Dye all hit homers for the Athletics. Chan Ho Park tossed seven shutout innings to lead the Texas Rangers past the Seattle Mariners 5-0.

Park gave up eight hits while striking out five and walking three. Laynce Nix and Hank Blalock both homered for Texas.