It was a weird month but the Boston Red Sox ended April on a high note by defeating the Chicago White Sox. Frank Viola (2-2, 3.06 ERA) almost went the distance as he allowed just 1 run through 8 2/3 innings. Meanwhile the much maligned Red Sox offense finally cashed in with runners in scoring position against White Sox starter Alex Fernandez. Phil Plantier and Wade Boggs supplied most of the offense by driving in 5 of the team's six runs. Jody Reed went 3 for 4 as well to aid the cause while Viola pitched his gem. With Viola on the run in the ninth, Jeff Reardon came in to slam the door. The BoSox ended the month of April on a good note with a 6-1 win over the White Sox at Fenway Park.
The White Sox wasted no time tagging Viola in the top of the first as Luis Rivera scooped up a grounder by Tim Raines and threw the ball into the centerfield bleachers for an error. Steve Sax singled to right to move Raines to third and move himself to second on the throw. Robin Ventura hit a sac fly to left to score Raines with the first run. Sax stole third but Frank Thomas struck out swinging. George Bell popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning with the White Sox up 1-0.
Ventura drives in a run
The Red Sox didn't wait around to get to Fernandez as Wade Boggs walked to start then moved to third on the base hit to right by Jody Reed. Phil Plantier doubled to left to score Boggs and Reed but Ellis Burks hit a routine grounder to Sax. Sax threw the ball away for an error that scored Plantier with another run and Burks took third on a passed ball. Herm Winningham walked but Jack Clark popped up to second. Winningham stole second as Mo Vaughn struck out swinging but Tony Pena grounded out to third to end the inning with the BoSox ahead 3-1.
Mike Huff began the top of the second by flying out to left. Ron Karkovice flied out to left and Lance Johnson grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Luis Rivera flied out to center to start the bottom of the second before Boggs struck out swinging. Reed got a base hit to left but Plantier struck out swinging to end the inning.
Craig Grebeck beat out an infield single to short to start the top of the third but Raines flied out to right. Sax flied out to left and Ventura grounded out to second to end the inning. Burks grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third before Winningham lined out to left. Clark flied out to right to end the inning.
Thomas grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth before Bell walked. Huff forced Bell at second and got thrown out trying to steal to end the inning. Vaughn flied out to right to open the bottom of the fourth and Pena took strike three. Rivera flied out to right to end the inning.
Karkovice struck out swinging to open the top of the fifth but Johnson singled to center. Johnson was also thrown out trying to steal and Grebeck grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth although Boggs flied out to right to open. Reed singled in the hole at second then swiped second base. Plantier doubled down the first base line to score Reed with another run. Burks struck out swinging and Winningham grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Viola cruised in the top of the sixth as Raines grounded out to short to start. Sax popped up to first and Ventura grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Clark popped up to first in foul territory to start. Vaughn struck out swinging but Grebeck booted a grounder by Pena to keep the inning alive. Rivera ripped a base hit to center and Boggs doubled into the gap in center to score both runners. Roberto Hernandez came in to pitch to Reed and Jody walked. Plantier walked to load the bases but Burks popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.
Thomas grounded out to short to start the top of the seventh but Bell singled to left. Bell tried to stretch a double but was thrown out by Winningham at second. Huff flied out to right to end the inning. Scott Radinsky came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Winningham took strike three to start. Clark grounded out to short and Vaughn took strike three to end the inning.
Karkovice walked to begin the top of the eighth but Johnson banged into a double play. Grebeck grounded out to short to end the inning. Bobby Thigpen came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth but Pena singled to right to start. Rivera struck out swinging but Boggs walked, only for Reed to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Viola tried to finish what he started in the top of the ninth and Raines singled to left to start. Sax flied out to left but Ventura walked. Thomas flied out to center but Bell walked to load the bases. Sox manager Butch Hobson felt Viola had done enough as he mastered the White Sox for 8 2/3 innings. Jeff Reardon came in and Matt Merullo pinch hit for Huff. Merullo popped up to third in foul territory to end the game. The Red Sox had won it 7-1.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, 2 rbis and a run scored.
Jody Reed was 3 for 4 with a walk, a stolen base and scored two runs.
Phil Plantier was 2 for 3 with a walk, 3 rbis and a run scored.
Jeff Reardon earned the save by getting the final out of the ninth inning.
The Bad:
Ellis Burks was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Jack Clark was 0 for 4.
Mo Vaughn was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Herm Winningham was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and stole a base.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Luis Rivera was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
That was an up and down month for sure. The offense didn't get untracked until the very end but the pitching held up for the most part. The trio of Roger Clemens, Frank Viola and Mike Gardiner looked great and Joe Hesketh had a good game last time he pitched. The bullpen of Greg Harris, Danny Darwin, Tony Fossas and Jeff Reardon has been solid and there's a chance they can hold up all season. The offense is too talented not to come around, especially Mike Greenwell, Vaughn, Plantier, Boggs and Clark. Tonight's game was a glimpse of what can happen when the offense cashes in on their chances given by mistakes and runners in scoring position. The win improved the Sox to 9-9, 5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Friday night against the Kansas City Royals. Mike Gardiner (3-0) goes for the Sox against Mark Gubicza of Kansas City. The game begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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