Pedroia, Sox Beat Yanks for 1st Win; Jose Tabata Stars in Pittsburgh Win Over Rockies

Players of the Day for Friday, April 8, 2011

American League

Dustin Pedroia

After opening the season with six straight losses, the Boston Red Sox finally put one in the win column, and it was especially pleasant coming as a 9-6 win over their lifelong nemesis, the New York Yankees.

It was a ty[ical Yankees-Red sox battle, with the two teams combining for 13 runs in the first five innings. Boston starter John Lackey lasted five innings. Phil Hughes, the Yankee starter, was shelled for six runs over the first two innings.

Dustin Pedroia delivered the money shots, with a solo homer in the first inning and a two-run single in the second. He came around to score as the Red Sox put up a five-spot and added a single later to complete a 3-for-5 night at the plate.

The two teams go to battle again at 1:10 pm EDT in Boston on Saturday.

National League

The Pittsburgh Pirates got their first home win of the season, outlasting Colorado, 4-3, in 14 innings.

Jose Tabata

The win kept Pittsburgh a mere half game behind the NL Central front-running Reds as the Pirates have displayed much more punch in their lineup this season than in years past.

Leadoff hitter Jose Tabata doubled home the winning run with two out in the bottom of the 14th after pinch-hitter Josh Rodriguez reached on a walk. Tabata's shot scored Rodriguez all the way from first, improving Pittsburgh's record to 5-3.

Tabata had earlier socked his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the 5th inning as the Pirates fought back from a 3-0 Colorado lead forged by Jason Giambi's 3-run blast in the first. Tabata finished 2-for-6 with two RBI, adding his third stolen base of the season in the seventh inning. His heroic night at the plate actually lowered his batting average slightly, from .346 to .344

The Pirates evened up their series with Colorado after a 7-1 loss on Thursday and conclude the series with games Saturday and Sunday.