Yankees and Red Sox win openers

Hours before leading the New York Yankees to a rout in their season opener, Johnny Damon watched Curt Schilling and the rest of his former Boston Red Sox teammates win on television from about 1,500 miles away.

Damon snapped an 0-for-16 skid on opening day with three hits for the Yankees in a 15-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.

"If this is any indication, this is going to be a fun year," Damon said. "It feels awesome. Since Day 1, it's been great here."

Alex Rodriguez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, and Randy Johnson exhibited the dominant form he lacked for much of last season.

Rodriguez's 12th career slam highlighted New York's seven-run second inning that staked Johnson to a big lead early.

"We have a hungry bunch," A-Rod said. "We've had it since spring training on. I see a different attitude."

Johnson allowed one run and five hits in seven strong innings, an impressive 106-pitch performance for the 42-year-old lefty to kick off his second season with the Yankees.

Schilling, his former teammate in Arizona, looked as good as he felt. He struck out five and allowed two runs over seven strong innings in Boston's 7-3 season-opening victory over Texas.

"It looks like Schilling's fastball is back," Damon said.

Damon, wearing his No. 18 gray road jersey, was the first New York player to be announced before the game -- moments after manager Joe Torre. When introduced, Damon got booed from the same fans who used to cheer him when he played for the A's in 2001.

Damon doubled twice and hit an RBI single.

Hideki Matsui homered on opening day for the second straight year, hitting a three-run shot in the fourth. He finished with four hits and four RBIs.

In other games, it was: Detroit 3, Kansas City 1; Baltimore 9, Tampa Bay 6; and the Los Angeles Angels 5, Seattle 4.

Schilling said he was still strong after a 117-pitch outing in which he walked one and allowed only one extra-base hit, a two-run homer by Hank Blalock in the sixth inning. His velocity was in the mid-90s at times.

"All of 2004, I was getting shot in the ankle after April. So this has been almost two years since I felt anything remotely close to this," Schilling said. "This is what I was like in 2002."

Tigers 3, Royals 1

At Kansas City, Mo., Kenny Rogers combined with two relievers on a four-hitter, Chris Shelton homered twice and Jim Leyland won his first game as the Tigers' manager.

Carlos Guillen also homered for the Tigers, and Fernando Rodney got the save in his first game as closer in place of injured Todd Jones.

Rogers gave up one run and three hits in six innings, struck out five and walked none in his first opening-day victory since 2000. Shelton hit two go-ahead solo homers off loser Scott Elarton, Shelton's first career multihomer game, and finished 3-for-4.

Orioles 9, Devil Rays 6

At Baltimore, Luis Matos and Melvin Mora hit successive homers in the fifth inning, and Miguel Tejada and Jeff Conine also connected as the Orioles won their sixth straight opener.

Newcomer Ramon Hernandez went 3-for-3 with a walk for the Orioles, who totaled 14 hits in Sam Perlozzo's managerial debut. Baltimore, which ranked last in the AL with 14 spring training homers, tied the team mark for an opener set in 1982.

Jonny Gomes and Travis Lee homered for Tampa Bay, but it wasn't enough offense to make a winner of Joe Maddon in his managerial debut.

Winner Rodrigo Lopez allowed five earned runs and seven hits in seven innings, and rookie Chris Ray got three outs for his first big league save. Loser Scott Kazmir gave up six runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.

Angels 5, Mariners 4

At Seattle, Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to lift Los Angeles.

With the score tied 3-3, reliever George Sherrill walked Casey Kotchman. Jose Molina sacrificed pinch-runner Maicer Izturis to second and Tim Salmon advanced him to third on a groundout. Reliever J.J Putz walked Chone Figgins, who stole second before Cabrera's two-run single for the Angels.

Scot Shields pitched 1 1-3 innings in relief for the victory. Francisco Rodriguez earned the save, giving up a solo homer to pinch-hitter Roberto Petagine in the ninth.

Kenji Johjima, playing in the first major league game for a Japanese catcher, homered in the fifth for Seattle.