The city of Boston got a double dose of good news as the Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadians in Game 1 of their second round NHL playoff series and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals in today's game. Tom Bolton (1-0, 1.46 ERA) tossed 7 solid innings, allowing just 2 runs to keep the Sox in the game. The offense once again provided a spark with Jack Clark and Mike Greenwell slugging home runs. Tom Brunansky also drove in two runs as the Sox enjoyed their second straight victory over the Royals 6-2 at Fenway Park.
The Royals struck first in the top of the first against Bolton as Gary Thurman singled to right to start. Kevin Seitzer forced Thurman at second then advanced to second on the George Brett grounder. A wild pitch moved Seitzer to third and he scored on the Danny Tartabull double to right. Kirk Gibson lined out to first to end the inning with the Royals ahead 1-0.
Storm Davis got the ball in the bottom of the first and Wade Boggs led off with a grounder to short. Jody Reed popped up to short and Mike Greenwell flied out to center to end the inning.
Russ Morman flied out to right to start the top of the second and Mike Macfarlane grounded out to short. Bill Pecota took strike three to end the inning. The Sox tied it up in the bottom of the second as Jack Clark doubled to center to begin. Ellis Burks moved Clark to third with a grounder and Tom Brunansky scored Jack with a sac fly to tie the game. Mike Marshall lined out to right to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Shumpert lined out to center to start the top of the third and Thurman flied out to right. Seitzer grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the third as Tony Pena singled blooped a single to right to start. Luis Rivera made his season debut by moving Pena to third with a base hit and Boggs scored Tony with a grounder to give the Sox the lead. Reed banged into a double play to end the inning but it was 2-1 Sox.
The Royals answered in the top of the fourth as Brett grounded out to second to start. Tartabull singled to left and took second on a wild pitch. Gibson walked and Morman singled home Tartabull to tie the game. Macfarlane grounded into a double play to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Sox took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth as Greenwell walked to start. Clark then mashed his second home run of the season to give Boston the lead. Burks grounded out to short and Brunansky grounded out to third, but Marshall singled to right. Pena grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Pecota popped up to second to start the top of the fifth and Shumpert grounded out to short. Thurman doubled to left and Seitzer grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth and Rivera grounded back to the mound to start. Boggs flied out to left and Reed grounded out to third to end the inning.
Brett grounded out to second to start the top of the sixth but Tartabull flied out to right. Gibson grounded out to first to end the inning. Greenwell singled to start the bottom of the sixth but Clark flied out to center. Burks singled to left but Brunansky popped up to short. Marshall grounded into a force to end the inning.
Bolton returned for one last inning in the top of the seventh and Morman lined out to center to start. Macfarlane doubled to left and moved to third on the grounder by Pecota. Shumpert flied out to center to end the inning. That was a great effort by Bolton to toss 7 innings of 2 run ball to keep the Sox in front.
Pena popped up to short to begin the bottom of the seventh and Rivera struck out swinging. Boggs grounded out to third to end the inning.
Jeff Gray came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Jim Eisenreich pinch hit for Thurman. Eisenreich lined out to center, Seitzer grounded out to short and Brett flied out to center to end the inning. Boston wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Reed grounded out to third to start. Greenwell then struck his first bomb of the year to increase the lead. Clark flied out to left but Burks walked to chase Davis. Luis Aquino came in to pitch and Burks moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on the Brunansky single off the Monster. Marshall singled to center but Pena grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-2.
Gray returned to close out the top of the ninth and Tartabull grounded out to short to start. Gibson whiffed but Kurt Stillwell pinch hit for Morman. Stillwell flied out to left to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-2.
Hero of the Night is Tom Bolton. He tossed 7 innings of 2 run ball to earn the win. He allowed 6 hits and just one walk.
The Good:
Mike Greenwell was 2 for 3 with a walk, home run and 2 runs scored.
Jack Clark was 2 for 4 with a two run home run and 2 total runs scored.
Ellis Burks was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Tom Brunansky was 1 for 3 with 2 total rbis.
Mike Marshall was 2 for 4.
Luis Rivera was 1 for 3.
Jeff Gray got the save with 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Jody Reed was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Two straight games the Sox offense came to play and the Sox got a great effort for the third game in a row from their starter. Matt Young on Patriots Day, Danny Darwin yesterday and Tom Bolton today. Nobody expects Bolton to win 20 games but if he can be the air apparent to Bruce Hurst they've been missing for the last two years, that would be nice. As mentioned earlier, the offense is starting to pick up with two straight games of multiple home runs. If only they had this on Patriots Day but oh well. It was still a good win and hopefully the momentum carries them into tomorrow's game with the Kansas City Royals. Roget Clemens (2-0) goes for the Sox up against Bret Saberhagen of the Royals in what should be a pitching clinic. The game begins at 2:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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