BOSTON (AP) - Jacoby Ellsbury became the first player to steal home this season, doing it for the Boston Red Sox against Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees.
J.D. Drew was at bat with the bases loaded in the fifth inning after Kevin Youkilis was walked intentionally on Sunday night. Ellsbury got a big lead with third baseman Angel Berroa playing far off the bag then took off when the left-handed Pettitte began his windup.Ellsbury slid in headfirst, beating Jorge Posada's tag and giving Boston a 3-1 lead.
It was the second steal of home against Pettitte in three seasons. Aaron Hill stole home against him on May 29, 2007, in Toronto's 3-2 win.
It also was the first steal of home for Boston with no other runners attempting to steal since Jeff Frye did it on June 4, 1999, on an attempted squeeze bunt. Jose Offerman scored on a double steal on Aug. 30, 1999.
The last steal of home by a Red Sox player when there was no squeeze attempt or other runner trying to steal was by Billy Hatcher on April 22, 1994.
There were 15 steals of home last year with four of them straight steals with no other runners trying to steal, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last of any kind was a straight steal by Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 18.
