NEW YORK — The World Series champion New York Yankees
will play the Boston Red Sox in the major league Sunday night opener on April 4.
The game will be televised on ESPN2 nationally but will
be blacked out on the ESPN2 in the areas of the two teams, where it will be
broadcast on their local networks. The game originally had been scheduled for
Monday, April 5.
When the schedule was announced in September, Yankees ace
CC Sabathia anticipated the shift.
"It'll be cold. We know that for sure," he said,
laughing. "To get in there right away and mix it up will definitely be good for
baseball. I'm sure it'll be like a Sunday night baseball game or something like
that, so that'll be cool."
New York also closes the season at Fenway Park and plays
Boston six times in its last 10 games.
The rivals also opened the season at Yankee Stadium in
2005 following Boston's first World Series title since 1918. The Yankees hold an
18-10 advantage in openers against the Red Sox with one tie.
The defending champion has played in Sunday night game in
five of the last six years.