Matsui's homer came after Giambi was hit by a pitch with two outs and Bernie Williams singled.
"I'm just taking the same mental approach I did during the regular season," Matsui said through a translator.
Matsui got the green light on the 3-0 count and hit a no-doubt drive over the wall in center field. The crowd kept cheering until he came out for a curtain call.
When Matsui trotted out to left field after the inning, the fans in the bleachers gave him another standing ovation. Williams tipped his cap from center field and Matsui returned the favor.
New York hitters were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the opener. Matsui got the Yankees going in the right direction.
"I don't know what happened yesterday," Torre said.
Juan Rivera, platooning with right fielder Karim Garcia, hit an RBI double in the second that made it 4-0. He drove in Johnson, who beat out a surprise bunt, but tried to stretch the hit into a triple and was cut down on a snap throw by catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
Redman was pulled when the Yankees threatened again in the third. He had gotten no-decisions in his other three postseason starts this year, and was pulled from Game 7 of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field after only three innings.
Soriano homered off Rick Helling in the fourth, launching a shot far over the left-field fence after another single by Johnson.
Soriano had been just 5-for-36 with 13 strikeouts since the start of the ALCS against Boston. He drew a leadoff walk in the first but was picked off by Redman, and struck out the next inning.
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