As for the game, this has been an up and down month for not only the Boston Red Sox but for John Dopson (2-1, 3.26 ERA) as well. After pitching one of the best games of his life on Patriots Day, he looked awful in his next start. In tonight's game against the California Angels, Dopson recaptured the magic of Patriots day to shut down the Angels for over 7 innings. He allowed just 1 run before Paul Quantrill slammed the door. John Valentin broke out of his slump with two big home runs and 5 total rbis as the Sox ended the month of April on a positive note with a 6-1 win at Fenway Park.
Dopson began his outing by getting Luis Polonia to ground out to second to begin the top of the first. Chad Curtis drew a walk but JT Snow flied out to center. Chili Davis grounded back to the mound to end the inning. John Farrell got the start for California and Fletcher grounded out to third to start. Billy Hatcher popped up to first but Mike Greenwell drew a walk. Andre Dawson popped up to short to end the inning.
Dopson got the Angels to beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the second inning and Tim Salmon grounded out to third to start. Rene Gonzales grounded out to second and Damion Easley grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Mo Vaughn led off with a double. Mo moved to third on the Carlos Quintana grounder and scored on the Scott Cooper single. Bob Melvin flied out to center and John Valentin iced the game with a 2 run bomb into the screen in left. Fletcher grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Dopson cruised in the top of the third inning as Greg Myers grounded back to the mound to begin. Gary DiSarcina flied out to right and Polonia singled but was thrown out at second trying to stretch to end the inning. Farrell matched Dopson in the bottom of the third as Hatcher popped up to first to start. Greenwell flied out to center and Dawson grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Curtis flied out to center to open the top of the fourth before Snow flied out to right. Davis took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fourth although Vaughn took strike three to start. Quintana and Cooper took back to back walks but Melvin flied out to center. Suddenly Valentin crushed another home run into the screen, this time a 3 run dinger to light the crowd up. Fletcher grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-0.
More than enough cushion for Dopson who cruised in the top of the fifth inning. Salmon took strike three, Gonzales grounded out to third and Easley also grounded out to third to end the inning. Ken Patterson took over for Farrell in the bottom of the fifth and Hatcher grounded out to first to begin. Greenwell lashed a base hit to left but Dawson whiffed. Vaughn doubled Greenwell to third but Quintana grounded out to second to end the inning.
Dopson dominated the top of the sixth as Myers grounded out to second to start. DiSarcina took strike three and Polonia flied out to right to end the inning. Chuck Crim came in for the bottom of the sixth and Cooper lined out to second to begin. Melvin took strike three but Valentin walked...only to get picked off to end the inning.
Dopson continued to pitch well in the top of the seventh as Curtis grounded out to third to start. Snow grounded out to first and Davis flied out to right to end the inning. Fletcher singled to open the bottom of the seventh and Luis Rivera pinch ran for him. Hatcher banged into a double play and Greenwell flied out to left to end the inning.
The Angels finally got on the board against a tiring Dopson in the top of the eighth although Salmon popped up to second to start. Dopson had retired 13 in a row before Gonzales singled to left. Easley doubled home Gonzales to break up the shutout and Myers walked to chase Dopson. John ran out of gas but pitched well for 7 1/3 innings, allowing just the 1 run. Paul Quantrill replaced him and Gary Gaetti pinch hit for DiSarcina. Gaetti flied out to center to move Easley to third but Cooper swiped a line drive off the bat of Polonia to end the inning with the Angels down 6-1.
Gene Nelson came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Dawson hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Vaughn walked but Quintana lined out to center. Cooper grounded out to second to end the inning.
Quantrill stayed in to finish the job in the top of the ninth inning with Bob Zupcic taking over in right field for Dawson. Curtis popped up to short before Snow went down swinging. Davis and Salmon drew back to back walks but Gonzales grounded back to the mound to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-1.
Hero of the Night is John Valentin. His two home runs outscored the Angels entire offense, driving in 5 runs by himself.
The Good:
Mike Greenwell was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Mo Vaughn was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Scott Cooper was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
John Dopson earned the win with 7 1/3 innings of 1 run ball. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 3.
Paul Quantrill tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Billy Hatcher was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Andre Dawson was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Bob Melvin was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Scott Fletcher was just 1 for 4.
Carlos Quintana was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Luis Rivera pinch ran for Scott Fletcher and played second base.
Bob Zupcic played right field in the top of the ninth inning.
Final Thoughts:
The month has been a doozy but the Sox are heading into May on a high note. Being over .500 is better than being under .500 and hopefully the Sox can keep up the momentum moving forward. Frank Viola had a heck of a month and Dopson appears to be healthy. John pitched almost as well tonight as he did Patriots Day and if it wasn't for Danny Darwin, the Sox would be in first place now. Getting Fletcher back helps and if Valentin can break out of his slump, good things are coming in the future. The win improved the Sox to 13-9 as the month ends. The Sox are back in action tomorrow afternoon against the Angels with Roger Clemens (3-1) going up against Scott Sanderson in a rematch of last week. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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