CHICAGO - The jitters disappeared quickly for the Chicago White Sox. That's what a five-run first inning and a five-homer game can do, especially against the defending World Series champions in the first game of the playoffs.

"I had more than one guy come up to me and say, 'Man, I was a little nervous that first inning," Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski said.

Pierzynski, who has postseason experience from his years with Minnesota, helped settle his teammates down with a three-run homer in the opening inning, right after his attempted bunt rolled foul. He added a solo shot in the eighth as the White Sox routed the Boston Red Sox 14-2 in Game 1 Tuesday.

"It's nice when you get a game like this, but we've played enough of the other ones to not expect this," said Chicago's Paul Konerko, who also homered.

"I think any team is surprised by 14 runs."

The White Sox got to Boston starter Matt Clement in a hurry. The Butler native surrendered three homers and lasted just 3

innings, giving up seven hits and eighth runs.

"It's disappointing. No excuses. I pitched bad," Clement said. "I threw bad pitches. They hit them."

The White Sox, remade in the offseason to manufacture runs with speedy Scott Podsednik at the top of the lineup, also can use the long ball. And they hit them at opportune times - Pierzynski hadn't homered in a month before Tuesday night.

"In the playoffs, you get to start over and forget what you did in the past," he said.

That's what the White Sox are trying to do. Combine the two styles of offense and forge their first title in 88 years.

"We hit 200 home runs. That's a lot for a team playing small ball," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "When Podsednik hit a homer run, it was like 'Wow.'"

Podsednik, who didn't homer all season, hit a three-run shot in the sixth. Juan Uribe also homered.

Boston knows how to overcome October deficits. The Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS last year before sweeping St. Louis in the World Series for their first title since 1918.

They started that remarkable run last October after they were beaten 19-8 in Game 3 of the ALCS.

"That was a long time ago," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "It's a different team. I've said so many times that last year doesn't matter. What matters to this team is how we bounce back."

Chicago's Jose Contreras pitched effectively into the eighth inning, ending Boston's eight-game postseason winning streak that carried the team to its first title in 86 years last season.

Contreras, who was 2-4 with an 11.67 ERA in his career against the Red Sox, allowed eight hits and two runs in 7 innings in his first playoff start.