Yankees Get Most Out of One Win

It’s hard to believe that the New York Yankees, as deep in talent as they are in dollars, would be thinking in terms of a “must” win in mid-April, but then who knows when the phone might ring with the bellowing Boss on the other end. The Yankees, having lost two in a row in Fenway Park and batting .206 through 11 games, forestalled that menacing possibility Sunday by defeating the Boston Red Sox, 7-3.

Alex Rodriguez, an object of scorn again to the booing fans, remained hitless for this over-hyped “Showdown in Beantown,” but the Yankees basically took the Red Sox and a crowd of 35,011 out of it by scoring six runs against Derek Lowe in the third inning.

A “must” win?

General Manager Brian Cashman suggested as much.

“No one likes to come to Fenway, of all places, and lose three in a row, so it’s at least nice to make our presence felt,” he said. “People forget that we have a bunch of new guys and we’re still getting to know each other.”

For Rodriguez, there is the adjustment to a new team and a new position (shortstop to third base) amid the great expectations.

He is batting .156, hitless in 12 at-bats in the series, and said he remains a “work in progress.”

“It starts with being patient, not trying to do everything in one at-bat,” he said. “I’m going to be there offensively, there’s no question in my mind, and it felt nice to contribute today in another way.”

He was referring to a key defensive play that had cut down a runner at the plate as the Red Sox tried to rally in the bottom of the third.

Rodriguez also walked twice and lined out to center before striking out and flying out with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Joe Torre, the hopeful Yankee manager, cited Rodriguez’s improving patience and said: “He’s almost there, but he’s still jumping at it a little when he has the count in his favor. Is he pressing? I think that’s natural in the situation, and he’s not alone. A lot of our guys have been pressing, but I’m proud of the way we hit today. We stayed within ourselves. We didn’t try to do too much with Lowe.”

The sinkerball specialist gave up eight hits and walked four in 2 2/3 innings.

Doubles by Gary Sheffield and Jorge Posada highlighted the six-hit, six-run third inning, after which Torre, with a 7-1 lead, underscored the perception of a “must” win by yanking the erratic Jose Contreras after the Red Sox scored twice in the bottom of the third. Former Dodger Paul Quantrill and three other Yankee relievers shut out the Red Sox in the final 6 2/3 innings.

The tame renewal of the ballyhooed rivalry wraps up with a fourth game this morning. The intensity and emotion may be stronger amid the heat of the summer race.

At this point, the Red Sox are without the injured Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon, and the Yankees have issues with rotation depth and roster composition.

Cashman was asked if he was concerned that his renowned and expensive contingent might take things for granted at times, thinking the wins are automatic. He shook his head and said: “We have too much respect for everybody. Well, not everybody, but most teams.”