The Yankees rushed out to a 4-0 lead against Tim Hudson, Oakland's ace. Hudson allowed seven hits in the first four innings alone, and New York scored all four runs during that span. In the top of the fifth, the A's got back into the game, reaching Ted Lilly for three runs. Adam Piatt walked, went to third on a double by Olmedo Saenz and scored on a wild pitch. Catcher Ramon Hernandez hit a two-run homer to cut the Yankee advantage to one run.

In the bottom of that inning, Martinez came up big for the Yankees yet again. He hit a double to deep right field, scoring Paul O'Neill with an insurance run. The home team added another two runs in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of a home run by Chuck Knoblauch. Hudson, who would eventually take the loss to drop his record to 2-3, allowed 12 hits and six runs in seven innings pitched.

Rivera earned another save for the Yanks, but this time he walked a tightrope to do it. With an inherited runner on base and the score at 7-4, Rivera gave up a two-run homer to Saenz. After that, Rivera got two straight outs to preserve the win. That victory held even greater significance -- it was No. 500 for Joe Torre as a Yankee, elevating him to a plateau reached by only five other Yankee managers.

Oakland    000 030 012 - 6 4 0
New York 002 212 00x - 7 14 1
WP: Lilly (1-0) LP: Hudson (2-3) S: Rivera (5) -- 2B: Saenz (4); Knoblauch (6), T Martinez (7) -- HR: R Hernandez (1), Saenz (2); Knoblauch (2)