First of all, Youkilis delivers.

Byline: Phil O'Neill

BOSTON - It was quite a contrast at Fenway Park yesterday - a first baseman who never makes an error (well, almost) and another who made one of the most famous errors in baseball history.

"I've probably never been so close to tears on a baseball field in my life," Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis said about Bill Buckner, the goat of Boston's 1986 World Series loss to the Mets, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at the home opener.

"That was just the most unbelievable thing. It shows how great of a man Bill Buckner is. There's not many people can do what what he did - face thousands of people who booed him, threatened his life, did horrific things toward him. I just had to go out there and shake his hand. He's been through some tough times.

"Everyone says we are well paid and just playing a game, but that part of his life wasn't a game," Youkilis added. "That really hit me. Holy cow, sometimes this is more than a game. It's life here in Boston. To me, it was awesome. I was almost in tears. For him to come here and throw out the first pitch just says a lot about the man."

Whether or not he used Buckner for inspiration, Youkilis played a key role in Boston's 5-0 victory over Detroit, knocking out three hits and driving in two runs, as the Red Sox snapped out of the funk that spoiled the second half of their long road trip.

After going 1 for 7 in two games in Japan, Youkilis has caught fire. He's batting .500 since, going 9 for 18 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 RBIs, 5 runs and 3 walks in his last five games. He's hitting .400 overall with a .484 on-base percentage and .640 slugging percentage.

"It was great to get home and win a big game," the first baseman said of the team finally returning home after that trip of all trips. He also thoroughly enjoyed getting his 2007 World Series ring during the impressive pregame ceremonies.

"It never gets old," he said of the Opening Day extravaganza. "This was my third Opening Day, and we've had two ring ceremonies. Hopefully we can do this every year in the future. This was a huge game for us to win. It was a great day. And we can thank the Red Sox Foundation for not scheduling their dinner (last night)."

Despite the relaxation of finally sleeping in his own bed, Youkilis said he plays every game the same. "I try to concentrate on doing the things I do well. Sometimes you hit the ball well, and the hits don't fall in. But if you keep it simple, go pitch by pitch and keep on an even keel, sometimes it falls your way."

Youkilis singled in the first inning, walked in the second and hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth for Boston's third run. He doubled home Julio Lugo in the sixth for another run and singled in his last at-bat in the eighth.

The big day paid off in a game in which the Red Sox were having a lot of trouble scoring runs. They stranded 11 runners in the first six innings.

His dogged approach and the emotion he shows when he makes an out has endeared the former third baseman to Red Sox fans, who serenade him with "Youk... Youk" wherever Boston plays.

His defense has been superior. He played in his 201st straight errorless game at first base yesterday, extending his major league record. On April 2 of this season, Youkilis broke Steve Garvey's record of 193 consecutive errorless games by a first baseman. His last error at first base was July 4, 2006, at Tampa Bay.

Confirmation of that outstanding defense came in the form of the 2007 Gold Glove Award, a reward for being just the second first baseman in AL history to compile a 1.000 fielding percentage when he handled 1,080 chances in 135 games without an error.

And while Youkilis insists he approaches every game the same way, he admits that finally getting home and getting into the familiar baseball routine should be good for his team.

"It's going to be fun just playing baseball and not having so much chaos around us," he said.

NAME: BOSTON RED SOX 

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis follows his two-run double in the sixth inning. (2) Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp dives but can't catch a line drive.

PHOTOG: (1) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (2) T&G Staff/CHRIS CHRISTO