Things started out well for the Sox in the top of the first although Wade Boggs grounded out to first to start. Marty Barrett flied out to center but Dwight Evans walked. Mike Greenwell beat out an infield single to first and Ellis Burks doubled home Evans to put the Sox on top. Jim Rice got a base hit to center to score both runners to increase the lead but Nick Esasky flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
The O's answered in the bottom of the first against Boddicker as Brady Anderson was plunked to start. Phil Bradley struck out swinging but Joe Orsulak singled to right. Orsulak took second on a passed ball as Anderson swiped third before Cal Ripken Jr walked to load the bases. Larry Sheets singled to center to score Anderson and Orsulak, moving Ripken to third. Mickey Tettleton beat out a double play ball to score Ripken to tie the game. Jim Traber singled to center but Craig Worthington struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Rich Gedman popped up to short to start the top of the second before Jody Reed singled to center. Bautista had Reed picked off but he threw the ball away, allowing Jody to take second. Boggs walked but Barrett hit into a double play to end the inning. Rene Gonzales struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second before Anderson singled to right. Bradley took strike three and Orsulak struck out swinging to end the inning.
Evans went down hacking to start the top of the third before Greenwell grounded out to first. Burks flied out to center to end the inning. Ripken Jr flied out to right to start the bottom of the third and Sheets hit a routine pop up to Reed. Reed tried to catch the ball in his hat and it fell for an error. Tettleton walked on a blown strike three call and Boddicker let home plate umpire Larry McCoy have it. McCoy told Boddicker to take a hike and that was it for Mike after 2 1/3innings and 3 runs allowed. Mike Smithson came in and got Traber to fly out to left. Worthington flied out to left as well to end the inning.
Rice grounded out to short to start the top of the fourth and Esasky grounded out to third. Gedman flied out to center to end the inning. The O's took command in the bottom of the fourth as Gonzales doubled to center to start. Anderson dropped down a bunt to move Rene to third and he scored on the Bradley base hit to center. Orsulak lined out to short and Ripken grounded into a force to end the inning with the O's up 4-3.
Reed flied out to center to start the top of the fifth, Boggs flied out to left and Barrett grounded out to third in short order. The O's tagged Smithson in the bottom of the fifth as Sheets doubled to right to begin. Tettleton sacrificed Sheets to third but Traber took strike three. Worthington drove in Sheets with a single to right and Gonzales singled to left. Anderson flied out to center to end the inning with the O's ahead 5-3.
Evans grounded out to short to start the top of the sixth, Greenwell flied out to center and Burks struck out swinging in short order. Smithson cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Bradley grounded out to second to start. Orsulak struck out swinging and Ripken Jr flied out to right to end the inning.
Rice grounded out to short to start the top of the seventh, Esasky flied out to center and Gedman flied out to left to end the inning. Bautista had not allowed a baserunner since Boggs walked in the second inning. The O's iced the game in the bottom of the seventh as Sheets grounded out to short to start. Tettleton hit a home run all the way to the Carpathian mountains to increase the lead. Traber popped up to short and Worthington flied out to center to end the inning with the Orioles ahead 6-3.
Reed grounded back to the mound to start the top of the eighth and Boggs grounded out to short. Barrett got the first Sox hit since the second inning with a seeing eye single to left but Evans flied out to center to end the inning. Rob Murphy sprinted to the mound from the bullpen for the bottom of the eighth and Gonzales flied out to left to start. Anderson flied out to right and Bradley struck out swinging to end the inning.
Francisco Melendez came in to play first for the top of the ninth but Greenwell smashed his second home run of the season to chase Bautista after 8 plus solid innings. Mark Williamson came in and Burks grounded out to short. Rice grounded out to short and Esasky grounded out to third to end the game. The O's had won it 6-4.
The Good:
Mike Greenwell was 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 total runs scored.
Rob Murphy pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Nick Esasky was 0 for 4.
Rich Gedman was 0 for 3.
Mike Boddicker allowed 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was 0 for 3 but walked.
Marty Barrett was just 1 for 4.
Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.
Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run and scored a run.
Jim Rice was just 1 for 4 but knocked in two runs.
Jody Reed was 1 for 3 but made an error.
Final Thoughts:
This kind of game really steams the clams of Sox manager Joe Morgan. The Sox scored 3 runs early and had Bautista on the ropes but not only let him off, but he dominated the rest of the game. Then Boddicker gets himself run in the third inning forcing Mike Smithson into action. Smithson gets lit up for 3 runs but the Sox couldn't generate any offense after the first inning. Not the start the Boston Red Sox were looking for after getting swept out of the playoffs, losing Bruce Hurst to free agency and the lousy Spring training they had. Still its only two games and there's plenty of time to turn things around but losing two straight gives off a bad vibe. Hopefully next time Boddicker can keep his cool and Smithson won't allow 3 runs. The Sox now travel to Kansas City for a set with the Royals beginning tomorrow night. Oil Can Boyd makes his season debut for the Red Sox against Floyd Bannister of the Royals. The game begins at 8:30 PM Eastern time at Royals Stadium.
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