Matsui Is Grand in His Home Debut

The crowd roared as Hideki Matsui rounded the bases after hitting his first major league home run. Only one game into his Yankee Stadium career, he made team history.

Matsui became the first Yankee to hit a grand slam in his first game at baseball’s most storied stadium, leading New York to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

“I never dreamed of it,” Matsui said. “Certainly I feel a little relief.”

Andy Pettitte improved to 3-0 in home openers and Robin Ventura homered as the Yankees won on a chilly 35-degree day. The opener had been snowed out Monday but the grounds crew worked all night to get the field in shape.

Matsui made it worthwhile, with a dazzling play in the field and his home run.

After Bernie Williams was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out in the fifth, Matsui worked the count full against Joe Mays (1-1).

Matsui then hit a drive into the right-field bleachers, drawing a thunderous ovation from the crowd of 33,109, which included his parents and brother.

Oakland 2, Texas 1 -- Barry Zito struck out seven and gave up only one run over seven innings at Arlington, Texas, for his 10th victory in a row.

Zito (2-0) became only the fifth Oakland pitcher with a 10-game winning streak, the first since Bob Welch in 1990.

Tampa Bay 8, Baltimore 7 -- Travis Lee singled to cap a two-run rally in the 10th inning, and the Devil Rays overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Orioles at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Baltimore wasted a 6-0 lead, but had gone back ahead in the 10th when Geronimo Gil homered off Lance Carter (2-0).

Toronto 8, Boston 4 -- Carlos Delgado homered and had four RBIs at Toronto to lead the Blue Jays over the Red Sox for their fourth consecutive victory. Delgado hit a two-run single off Derek Lowe (1-1) in the third inning and a two-run homer off Alan Embree in the seventh.

Chicago 5, Cleveland 3 -- Jose Valentin hit an RBI single in the 10th inning off Chad Paronto (0-1) and Frank Thomas had a sacrifice fly as the White Sox spoiled the Indians’ home opener.

Kansas City at Detroit, ppd. -- The game involving the Royals and Tigers was postponed because of snow. The teams are scheduled to play today and Thursday.