The host Arizona Diamondbacks have won the opening game of major league baseball's 97th World Series, defeating the New York Yankees 9-1 before a record crowd of almost 49,646 Saturday night.
The Yankees jumped on top one to nothing in the first inning, as New York shortstop Derek Jeter scored on a two-out double by Bernie Williams. Arizona tied the game in their half of the first, on second-baseman Craig Counsell's solo home run to right field.
But the Diamondbacks broke the game open in the third inning with four runs, including a two-run homer by Luis Gonzalez, to take a 5-1 lead and sending Yankees starter Mike Mussina out of the game. Arizona added four more runs in the fourth off New York reliever Randy Choate to go up nine to one. Yankees manager Joe Torre says Arizona starter Curt Shilling was too good.
"The game got out of hand…5-1 is out of hand with him on the mound," Mr. Torre said. "He's a good pitcher, he knows what to do with the lead, that's for sure, because he's not going to beat himself."
Schilling picked up his fourth win this postseason, giving up three hits and striking out eight before giving way to reliever Mike Morgan after seven innings. Mike Mussina pitched just three innings and took the loss for New York.
Randy Johnson will pitch for Arizona in Game 2 Sunday night, while Andy Pettitte starts for the Yankees.