Say what you will about how bad the Boston Red Sox offense is this season, but the pitching has been nothing short of miraculous. The Sox scratched out 4 runs in today's game against the Cleveland Indians but they just happened to be enough. Joe Hesketh (2-3, 3.05 ERA) tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings before Danny Darwin preserved the shutout by keeping the Indians scoreless the rest of the way. The Sox got two runs in the bottom of the fourth and scratched out two more and they all counted toward the win. It all added up to a 4-0 Red Sox win at Fenway Park.
Hesketh got the ball in the top of the first inning and he snuffed out a Kenny Lofton bunt attempt to start. Thomas Howard also grounded back to the mound but Carlos Baerga singled to center. Albert Belle struck out swinging to end the inning. Dave Otto got the ball for the Indians in the bottom of the first and Jody Reed grounded out to third to start. Mike Greenwell grounded out to first but Wade Boggs singled to left. Jack Clark popped up to center to end the inning.
Carlos Martinez grounded out to short to start the top of the second but Glenallen Hill blooped a single to center. Sandy Alomar Jr banged into a double play to end the inning. Ellis Burks grounded out to third to start the bottom of the second before Tom Brunansky singled in the hole at second. Bob Zupcic ran out of the baseline on a comebacker to the mound and was called out for interference, forcing Bruno back to first. Luis Rivera hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
Brook Jacoby flied out to right to start the top of the third before Felix Fermin lined out to second. Lofton grounded out to short to end the inning. Tony Pena lined a base hit to right to begin the bottom of the third before Reed flied out to right. Pena swiped second then took third on the grounder to first by Greenwell. Boggs lined out to center to end the inning.
Howard grounded out to short to start the top of the fourth and Baerga grounded back to the mound. Belle walked but Martinez popped up to first to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fourth as Clark got a seeing eye single in the hole at short to start. Burks walked and Brunansky doubled home Clark to put Boston on top. Zupcic grounded out to second but Burks scored to increase the lead. Rivera went down hacking and Pena flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Hesketh cruised in the top of the fifth as Hill flied out to center to start. Alomar grounded back to the mound and Jacoby struck out swinging to end the inning. Reed took strike three to start the bottom of the fifth before Greenwell grounded out to second. Boggs grounded out to short to end the inning.
Fermin grounded back to the mound to start the top of the sixth before Lofton's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Pena. Howard beat out a roller to third before Baerga grounded out to short to end the inning. Clark singled to left to start the bottom of the sixth before taking second on a wild pitch. Clark moved to third on a fly ball to right by Burks but Brunansky grounded out to third. Zupcic flied out to right to end the inning.
Hesketh returned briefly for the top of the seventh inning as Belle struck out swinging to start. Martinez singled to left and that was it for Hesketh. He lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed no runs on just 4 hits. Danny Darwin came in to pitch and Hill struck out swinging, but Alomar Jr got a base hit up the middle. Jacoby lined out to right to end the inning.
Great start by Hesketh
The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the seventh with Ted Power now on the mound. Rivera doubled to right and Pena dropped down a bunt to move Luis to third. Reed dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze that scored Rivera and put Jody safe at first. Reed stole second and took third on the grounder to short by Greenwell. Boggs was intentionally walked but Clark popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Alex Cole pinch hit for Fermin to start the top of the eighth and popped up to shallow left. Lofton flied out to left but Howard got a base hit to left. Baerga flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth with Mark Lewis now at short. Burks singled to center and Brunansky singled off the Monster. Brunansky was thrown out trying to stretch a double but Ellis made it to third. Zupcic struck out swinging but Rivera singled to center to score Burks. Pena singled Rivera to third but Reed flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
Nice hit Luis
Darwin came back to close out the top of the ninth with Scott Cooper now playing first base for Brunansky. Belle took strike three to start before Martinez struck out swinging. Hill doubled to center but Alomar Jr grounded out to third to end the game. The Sox had shutout the Indians 4-0.
Hesketh Hero
Hero of the Night is Joe Hesketh. He tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and a walk.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Jack Clark was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Ellis Burks was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Tom Brunansky was 3 for 4 with an rbi.
Luis Rivera was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Tony Pena was 2 for 3 with a stolen base.
Danny Darwin earned his third save with 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Mike Greenwell was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Jody Reed was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but stole a base and drove in a run.
Bob Zupcic was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Honorable Mention:
Scott Cooper played first base in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Once again the Sox struggled to score runs while the pitching did well. That was one of Hesketh's best games of the season and Darwin looked pretty good in relief. If the Sox had one or two more power bats in the lineup, they actually could catch the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox are desperate for offense but game's like today where the pitching slams the door makes up for that. Only Bob Zupcic and Jody Reed are hitting above .300 and Boggs is hitting "only" .277. Hopefully Clark, Burks and Greenwell can pick up the pace moving forward. The Sox are a .500 team in more ways than one, all pitching and no offense....my how times have changed! The win improved the Sox to 26-25, 5.5 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Baltimore for a crucial three game set with the first place Orioles. Mike Gardiner (3-4) goes up against Bob Milacki of the O's tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.
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