A first-pitch strike, all right

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hideki Okajima, whose natural inclination is to smile in the face of most circumstances, admitted that he, too, was not anticipating what happened when he threw his first pitch that counted in America's major leagues.

"I was pretty shocked, too," Okajima said after being taken deep by John Buck, the righthanded-hitting Royals catcher who cleared the 410-foot sign in right-center field with his seventh-inning drive.

Okajima retired the next three batters he faced, and gave up Mike Sweeney's single sandwiched around two outs in the eighth before being lifted by Terry Francona, who used six pitchers yesterday.

The 31-year-old lefty, who pitched 10 full seasons in Japan, said he was a little nervous yesterday.

"But less than I was on Opening Day in Japan," he said.

Buck hit a fastball that Okajima said was where he wanted to throw it.

"Maybe not exactly where I wanted to throw it," he amended.

Pitcher Kyle Snyder, who was originally drafted by the Royals, was especially moved to be here yesterday with the Sox.

"The proudest day of my life is to be part of this organization on Opening Day," said Snyder, who never before had been on an active Opening Day roster because of a staggering litany of surgeries on his elbow and shoulder. "All the hard work and adversity of the first few years, this makes this all the more fulfilling.

"I have a fresh arm still. I haven't had the wear and tear of 150-200 innings pitching for seven, eight years. Four-hundred-fifty innings is nothing. Most of those innings were accumulated under pitch counts as I was coming out of surgery.

"If I take care of myself, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if I found myself pitching 10 years from now."

Snyder said the plan is for him to be used as a long reliever first, with the possibility of some opportunities in a setup role.

"I couldn't be more grateful for that," he said. "I think I can fill quite a few gaps for this team in a few roles as they see fit. We'll see how it goes from here. I feel I can start, long relief, short, whatever. I feel I have the repertoire to fill those roles."

Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione passes along news that former Sox pitcher Jerry Casale, who won 13 games as a rookie in 1959, is in a New Jersey hospital, recovering from a stroke. Casale made many friends while operating a restaurant in midtown Manhattan . . . Castiglione also spoke Saturday with Yankees great Bobby Murcer, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer and yesterday made a surprise appearance at Yankee Stadium. "I talked to Bobby right after he began his treatment," said Castiglione, a longtime friend, "and one of the first things he asked me about was Trup." Trup, of course, is Jerry Trupiano, the former Sox broadcaster (1993-06) whose contract was not renewed after last season. New voices in the booth include Dave O'Brien and former Sox media relations man Glenn Geffner. Castiglione's contract this winter was renewed through the 2009 season.

Sox owner John W. Henry watched the game from a front-row seat behind home plate with his wife, Peggy, and their daughter. They were not in their seats when the Sox hit in the ninth . . . The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Warren O'Neil, brother of Buck O'Neil, baseball's foremost ambassador who posthumously was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Clark Hunt, who inherited ownership of the Kansas City Chiefs from his late father, Lamar Hunt, one of pro football's most influential owners . . . REO Speedwagon sang the anthem, and a stealth bomber flew overhead . . . Jason Varitek's Opening Day start was his eighth straight, the longest consecutive streak for the Red Sox since Mike Greenwell started nine straight (1988-96). Varitek's eight starts are two more than any other catcher in Sox history. Sammy White and Rich Gedman started a half-dozen apiece.

Mike Lowell kept alive his streak of hitting safely on Opening Day when he doubled in his last at-bat. Lowell has collected at least one hit in eight straight Opening Days . . . Julio Lugo, who struck out three times, had fanned three times in a game only four times in his previous 280 games, dating back to the start of the 2005 season . . . Mike Timlin is scheduled to pitch in a minor league camp game in Fort Myers today, then make two appearances for Pawtucket, the seventh inning on Thursday and the first inning on Saturday. The plan is for him to be activated in time for next Tuesday's home opener . . . Julian Tavarez is scheduled to pitch a simulated game today, with all of the Sox bench players volunteering to serve as hitters.