Key got the ball in the top of the first and Wade Boggs grounded out to first to start. Jody Reed flied out to right and Mike Greenwell struck out swinging to end the inning. The Jays wasted no time getting to Harris in the bottom of the first as Devon White doubled to center to begin. Roberto Alomar bunted White to third but Kelly Gruber struck out swinging. Joe Carter doubled home White to give the Jays the lead. John Olerud popped up to center to end the inning with the Jays up 1-0.
Jack Clark took strike three to start the top of the second and Ellis Burks grounded out to second. Tom Brunansky grounded out to third to end the inning. The Jays struck again in the bottom of the second as Rance Mulliniks tripled into the right field corner to start. Mark Whiten grounded out to first but Greg Myers hit a sac fly to score Mulliniks with another run. Manuel Lee singled to left but White grounded out to second to end the inning with the Jays up 2-0.
The Sox tied the game instantly in the top of the third as Carlos Quintana singled to center and Tony Pena clobbered his first home run of the season. Tim Naehring got a bloop single to left and Boggs drew a walk, but Reed messed up the bunt and Naehring was thrown out at third. Boggs took third on a fly ball to right by Greenwell and Clark walked to load the bases. Burks grounded back to the mound to end the inning but it was tied 2-2.
Alomar walked to start the bottom of the third then moved to second on the Gruber grounder. Carter popped up to short and Olerud grounded out to first to end the inning.
Brunansky grounded out to short to start the top of the fourth and Quintana grounded back to the mound. Pena flied out to right to end the inning. Mulliniks grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth and Whiten grounded back to the mound. Myers walked and Lee struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the fifth although Naehring flied out to right to start. Boggs singled to center but was forced at second by Reed. Greenwell singled to short and Clark walked to load the bases, but Burks flied out to right to end the inning. That's twice Burks left the bases loaded now. The Jays threatened in the bottom of the fifth as White singled to right to start. Alomar walked but Gruber banged into a double play. Carter popped up to second to end the inning.
Brunansky lined out to third to begin the top of the sixth but Quintana singled to left. Pena lined out to Key and Naehring watched strike three go by to end the inning. Harris ran out of gas in the bottom of the sixth although Olerud flied out to center to start. Mulliniks walked to start and Whiten doubled him home to chase Harris. Joe Hesketh came in and struck out Myers swinging before Lee grounded out to third to end the inning with the Jays up 3-2.
Duane Ward took over on the mound to start the top of the seventh and turned up the heat. Boggs, Reed and Greenwell all struck out swinging in short order. The Jays iced the game in the bottom of the seventh as White doubled to left to start. Alomar bunted him over to third and Sox manager Joe Morgan brought in Dana Kiecker to pitch to Gruber. Kiecker got a big out when Gruber grounded out to third but Carter doubled to left to increase the lead. Tony Fossas came in to pitch and Olerud popped up to left to end the inning with the Jays up 4-2.
The Sox fought back in the top of the eighth although Clark struck out swinging to start. Burks doubled down the left field line and Brunansky singled him to third. Quintana singled in the hole at short to score Burks to cut the lead. With a chance to tie the game....Pena popped up to right and Naehring lined out to third to end the inning with the Sox down 4-3.
Pat Tabler pinch hit for Mulliniks to begin the bottom of the eighth and he grounded out to third to begin. Boggs booted a grounder by Whiten for an error and Mark moved to second on the grounder by Myers. Lee walked and that was it for Fossas. Jeff Gray came in and got White to ground out to first to end the inning.
Tom Henke came in to close out the top of the ninth and the Sox went quietly. Boggs and Reed both flied out to left and Greenwell struck out swinging to end the game. The Jays had won it 4-3.
The Good:
Jack Clark walked twice in four plate appearances.
Carlos Quintana was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Tony Fossas tossed a full scoreless inning.
Jeff Gray retired the only man he faced.
The Bad:
Jody Reed was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
Joe Hesketh was charged with a run in an inning of work.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was just 1 for 4 with an error but walked.
Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Tom Brunansky was just 1 for 4.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 2 run homer.
Tim Naehring was just 1 for 4.
Greg Harris took the loss by allowing 3 runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
So much for the feel good win of Opening Day. This game was frustrating as the Sox kept it close but couldn't complete the comeback. Harris was average as it gets but Hesketh and Kiecker failing to keep the fourth run off the board proved to be the difference. The Sox had their chance in the eighth but couldn't tie the game. Its only April and its only the second game of the season so no need to panic. Tomorrow night the Sox are back in action against the Blue Jays when Matt Young makes his Red Sox debut against Todd Stottlemyre. The game begins at 7:05 at the Skydome.
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