OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- All spring, Alex Rodriguez noticed a quiet confidence about this Yankees team that he had yet to see before.It wasn't so quiet in their opener -- and manager Joe Torre might be right about this lineup being among the best he's had.
Rodriguez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Johnny Damon drove in a run in his Yankees' debut, and Randy Johnson exhibited the dominant form he lacked for much of last year in a season-opening 15-2 rout of the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.
"We have a hungry bunch," A-Rod said. "We've had it since spring training on. I see a different attitude."
Rodriguez's 12th career grand slam highlighted New York's seven-run second inning that staked Johnson to a big lead early. Johnson allowed one run and five hits in seven strong innings, an impressive 106-pitch performance for the 42-year-old lefty to kick off his second season with the Yankees.
"You don't want to lose your focus that you're going to cruise through it by any means," Johnson said. "I was able to get some easy outs."
The 15 runs were the most allowed by the A's on Opening Day, surpassing the 14 the Philadelphia A's gave up in a 14-8 loss to the Washington Senators on April 17, 1945.
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