Yankees_ Sox wrestle for control

Where live news breaks and the Connecticut Post’s bloggers can be found. SPORTS his locker in the team’s Fenway Park clubhouse. “Just another game.” Meanwhile, the Yankees, long the dominant force in the American League, BUCHHOLZ have not won the World Series since 2000, and haven’t played in the World Series since the Red Sox won in 2004. “I think overall, the Yankees have dominated the AL East for a long time,” said Hank Steinbrenner, who ■ Angel Pagan, Jose Reyes lift Mets over Phillies 4-3 in 12 innings. C3 C CONNECTICUT POST FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008 Yankees, Sox wrestle for control POST WIRE SERVICES The Yankees and Red Sox aren’t wasting any time renewing their rivalry in 2008. The two American League East behemoths will play one another five of the next seven days, with the next three games at Fenway Park and two more next week Wednesday and Thursday at Yankee Stadium. It will be the first time the teams have faced one another in a game that counts since the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series. That makes two titles in four years for the Red Sox, who put Clay Buchholz on the mound tonight to face Chien-Ming Wang. To Red Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon, the series WANG doesn’t seem to matter that much. “I’m not going to look at anything different, and I don’t think anybody else in this clubhouse is going to, either,” he said, counting out the days on a schedule taped to a pillar near Yankees at Red Sox At Fenway Park, Boston TONIGHT, 7 (YES, NESN) — ChienMing Wang (2-0, 1.38 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz (0-1, 5.40) SATURDAY, 3:30 (Ch. 5, 61) — Mike Mussina (1-1, 3.09) vs. Josh Beckett (0-1, 9.64) SUNDAY, 8 (ESPN) — Phil Hughes (0-1, 5.00) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-0, 1.47) ■ Andy Pettitte delivers Yanks. C3 ■ Sox bust out, rip Tigers 12-6. C3 was named co-chairperson of the Yankees on Thursday with his brother, Hal. “In the last 12 years, 13 years, we’ve got four (World Series titles), they’ve got two. As far as the last seven years ... that’s what I aim to correct.” Yankees players say they don’t think the rivalry has changed between the teams, although captain Derek Jeter pointed out: “There’s no ➤ Please see YANKEES on C3 Pilot Pen reels in a Fish Event gains its 1st men’s commitment STAFF REPORTS 72 ND MASTERS TOURNAMENT Early bloom Rose shares Augusta lead; Woods 4 back By MARK HERRMANN Newsday NEW HAVEN — American Mardy Fish, who is coming off a recent upset win over top-ranked Roger Federer, has become the first ATP player to commit to the 2008 Pilot Pen Tennis tournament, it was announced Thursday. The Pilot Pen, a U.S. Open Series event on the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA tours, will be held Aug. 1523 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. Fish was a finalist at the 2007 Pilot Pen. MARDY FISH Coming off He lost to Fairupset of No. 1 field’s James Roger Federer Blake, one of his better friends. Ranked No. 42 in the world, Fish recently had one of the biggest wins of his career when he upset Federer at the Masters Series event in Indian Wells, Calif., en route to the finals, where he fell in three sets to third-ranked Novak Djokovic. It was the first time an American had defeated Federer in more than four years, and was the second time Fish had reached a Masters Series final (Cincinnati, 2003). Fish also reached the quarterfinals of Delray Beach and San Jose this season. “We are delighted that our finalist from last year, and someone who has battled back against adversity over the past couple years, is the first player to commit to the 2008 Pilot Pen,” said Anne Worcester, the Pilot Pen tournament director. A former top-20 player whose career was on the rise after winning the silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, Fish suffered a wrist injury in 2005 that required two surgeries and threatened to derail his career. Over the past two years, he has steadily climbed back toward the top of the ATP rankings, winning his second career title at Houston in 2006, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in early 2007, and reaching the finals of the Pilot Pen last summer. “Last year’s Pilot Pen was a highlight for me,” Fish said. “To be able to play against James in such a terrific atmosphere was special. I am looking forward to the tournament again this year, and hope this time I can raise the champion’s trophy.” For tickets or more information about the tournament, or to learn how to volunteer, please call the Pilot Pen Tennis box office at (888) 99-PILOT or (203) 776-7331, or log on to www.pilotpentennis.com. AUGUSTA, Ga. — Ah, the fabled traditions of the Masters: Azaleas are in bloom, magnolias frame the scene, the sun reflects off Rae’s Creek, Justin Rose leads are the first round … Justin Rose? This time, actually, he is tied for first with his buddy and recent Augusta National practice partner Today’s TV: 4-7 p.m., 8-11 Trevor Immelman at p.m. (tape), 4-under par. But the ESPN theme is the same. Rose was first after the first day the last two times he played here, too, in 2004 and 2007. “I don’t know, exactly,” the 27-yearold Englishman said, trying to explain why he gets first-day jitters in reverse. “I obviously work hard before it, get myself up for it, and it’s obviously an important tournament.” But one fellow four strokes behind him on Thursday can attest to another hallowed Augusta tradition: The first round doesn’t mean all that much. So Tiger Woods, who hasn’t broken par in ➤ Please see WOODS on C3 Leaderboard Justin Rose..................34-34—68 ..-4 Trevor Immelman .........34-34—68 ..-4 Brian Bateman.............35-34—69 ..-3 Brandt Snedeker .........35-34—69 ..-3 Lee Westwood.............35-34—69 ..-3 Jim Furyk .....................34-36—70 ..-2 4 others ...........................................-2 NOTABLES Retief Goosen..............36-35—71 ..-1 Phil Mickelson .............35-36—71 ..-1 Tiger Woods ................36-36—72 ...E Vijay Singh ...................36-36—72 ...E Mike Weir .....................35-38—73 .+1 Padraig Harrington ......37-37—74 .+2 Ernie Els.......................37-37—74 .+2 Fred Couples ...............40-36—76 .+4 Sergio Garcia ...............38-38—76 .+4 Associated Press England’s Justin Rose reacts to his par on No. 18 at Augusta National on Thursday, giving him a 4-under-par 68 and a share of the first-round lead with Trevor Immelman. Rose has led the Masters after the first round the last three times he played at Augusta (2004, 2007). Comeau brings NHL confidence to AHL’s Tigers By MICHAEL FORNABAIO Staff Writer Devils at Sound Tigers Tonight, 7:30, Bridgeport Naturally, he came back the most different player. “I think he’s playing with a lot BRIDGEPORT — Of the 13 Bridgeport Sound Tigers players who were up with the New York Islanders in the past month, Blake Comeau had spent by far the most time in the NHL. of confidence,” coach Jack Capuano said. “His strength and his skating stride have obviously improved a great deal. He’s strong. He’s protecting the puck well.” Comeau plays his first home game since Dec. 16 tonight, when the Sound Tigers host Lowell. A win keeps their playoff hopes alive. He made sure of that Wednesday night, scoring the overtime goal that beat WilkesBarre/Scranton on the road. “It’s good to be back with these guys and try to help out with the playoff push,” said Comeau, 22, ➤ Please see COMEAU on C3 COMEAU spotlight a daily profile of regional athletes in the Online today @ Michael Fornabaio blogs on the Sound Tigers at forum.connpost.com/ soundinoff and writes about them weekly online in Sound Tigers Weekly. ➤ For YOUTH REPORT, a listing of This date in sports 1966 — Jack Nicklaus wins his third Masters and becomes the first to win in consecutive years as he shoots a 70 in an 18-hole playoff to beat Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer. 2004 — Phil Mickelson's pursuit of a major ends at the Masters when he makes an 18-foot birdie on No. 18. Rt. 110, Shelton • 929-6500 • SportsCenterCT.com clinics and registrations, and CALENDAR OF THINGS TO DO, go to www.connpost.com/sportinglife.