Dr. Vink approves of the win
Viola got the ball in the top of the first and he whiffed Kenny Lofton to begin the game. Thomas Howard grounded out to short and Carlos Baerga struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the first against Cleveland starter Jeff Mutis. Scott Fletcher grounded out to short but Billy Hatcher singled in the hole at short. Mike Greenwell hit a pop up to second but Baerga let it drop so they could get Hatcher at second. Andre Dawson singled in the hole at short but Mo Vaughn grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
The Indians struck first in the top of the second inning although Albert Belle grounded out to second to start. Paul Sorrento grounded out to short but Carlos Martinez doubled and Glenallen Hill beat out an infield single to second to put runners at the corners. Sandy Alomar was hit with a pitch to load the bases and Felix Ferman singled off Fletcher to score Martinez. Lofton grounded out to second to end the inning but the Indians were up 1-0 with all their damage coming with two outs.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the second as Carlos Quintana grounded out to third, Scott Cooper grounded back to the mound and Tony Pena flied out to left to end the inning.
Viola recovered to have a strong top of the third inning. Howard whiffed but Baerga was plunked. Belle grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third inning. Luis Rivera reached first on a swinging bunt but was erased on the force by Fletcher. Hatcher singled and Greenwell tripled both runners home to give the Sox the lead. Dawson whiffed but Vaughn singled home Greenwell. Quintana popped up to right to end the inning but the Sox were up 3-1
Greenwell gives the Sox the lead
The Indians tried to answer when Sorrento and Martinez struck back to back singles to start the top of the fourth inning. Hill grounded back to the mound but both runners advanced into scoring position. Alomar grounded back to the mound and Viola easily threw out Sorrento at home for the second out. Fermin grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fourth inning although Cooper grounded out to short to second to start. Pena singled but Rivera hit one up the elevator shaft. Fletcher pounded a two home run into the Monster's screen to tack on the lead. Hatcher flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Fletcher with a bomb
Viola held the Indians in check in the top of the fifth as Lofton grounded out to second, Howard grounded out to third and Baerga lined out to left to end the inning. Greenwell was plunked to begin the bottom of the fifth but Dawson flied out to right. Greenwell advanced to second on the groundout by Vaughn and Quintana was intentionally walked. Cooper grounded out to first to end the inning.
Viola dominated the top of the sixth as Belle grounded out to short to start. Sorrento doubled but Martinez was retired on a swinging bunt in front of the plate. Hill grounded out to third to end the inning. Mutis matched Viola in the bottom of the sixth as Pena grounded out to first, Rivera watched strike three go by and Fletcher grounded out to second to end the inning.
Viola came back for one final inning in the top of the seventh inning. Alomar singled but was doubled off on the Fermin line out to second. Lofton also lined out to second to end the inning. Great defense by Fletcher helped Viola toss 7 innings of 1 run ball, outstanding.
Viola goes 7 strong innings
The Sox got another run for the hell of it in the bottom of the seventh inning with Kevin Wicklander now on the mound. Hatcher popped up to short and Greenwell lined out to right, but Martinez threw a ground ball by Dawson away, allowing him to reach second. Ernie Riles pinch ran for Dawson to give Andre's knees a rest. A wild pitch moved Riles to third and Vaughn singled him home to increase the lead. Quintana grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were up 6-1.
"See Ernie? That's home plate. You're supposed to run there" - Clemens
Paul Quantrill took over on the mound with Bob Zupcic now in left field for the top of the eighth inning. Howard reached on a bunt single to third but foolishly ran all the way to third on a pop up to third by Baerga, getting doubled off first. Belle then crushed a 42,000 foot home run halfway to Everett to cut into the lead. Sorrento singled but Martinez flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 6-2.
Ted Power took over for the bottom of the eighth and got both Cooper and Pena to fly out to left. Rivera beat out an infield single and Fermin managed to boot a ground ball by Fletcher AND throw it away to boot for a double error to put runners on second and third. Hatcher walked to load the bases but Zupcic took strike three to end the inning.
Ken Ryan was brought in to finish off the top of the ninth inning. Hill flied out to right and Alomar grounded out to third before Jeff Treadway pinch hit for Fermin. Treadway walked but Lofton's bunt to third was snuffed out to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-2.
Hero of the Night is Frank Viola. He tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball without walking anyone to earn the win.
Frank the Hero
The Good:
Billy Hatcher was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
Mike Greenwell was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch, 2 rbis and a run scored.
Ernie Riles pinch ran for Andre Dawson and scored.
Mo Vaughn was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Luis Rivera was 2 for 4.
Ken Ryan pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Bob Zupcic struck out as a pinch hitter.
Scott Cooper was 0 for 4.
Paul Quantrill gave up a run in the top of the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Scott Fletcher was just 1 for 5 but made the hit count as it was a 2 run home run. He scored 2 total runs.
Andre Dawson was just 1 for 4.
Carlos Quintana was 0 for 3 but walked.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Another good pitching performance by a Sox starter. If this offense produces like today, the Sox could challenge Toronto for AL East supremacy. Viola, Roger Clemens and Danny Darwin could be a triple threat if healthy. Its too bad this team can't hit consistently, maybe Quintana can regain the form he had from 1990 and 1991. Its doubtful Viola can be the ace he was in 1987 but starts like these will be accepted every time. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox play the Indians again with John Dopson getting the start opposite Mike Bielecki at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
Viola held the Indians in check in the top of the fifth as Lofton grounded out to second, Howard grounded out to third and Baerga lined out to left to end the inning. Greenwell was plunked to begin the bottom of the fifth but Dawson flied out to right. Greenwell advanced to second on the groundout by Vaughn and Quintana was intentionally walked. Cooper grounded out to first to end the inning.
Viola dominated the top of the sixth as Belle grounded out to short to start. Sorrento doubled but Martinez was retired on a swinging bunt in front of the plate. Hill grounded out to third to end the inning. Mutis matched Viola in the bottom of the sixth as Pena grounded out to first, Rivera watched strike three go by and Fletcher grounded out to second to end the inning.
Viola came back for one final inning in the top of the seventh inning. Alomar singled but was doubled off on the Fermin line out to second. Lofton also lined out to second to end the inning. Great defense by Fletcher helped Viola toss 7 innings of 1 run ball, outstanding.
The Sox got another run for the hell of it in the bottom of the seventh inning with Kevin Wicklander now on the mound. Hatcher popped up to short and Greenwell lined out to right, but Martinez threw a ground ball by Dawson away, allowing him to reach second. Ernie Riles pinch ran for Dawson to give Andre's knees a rest. A wild pitch moved Riles to third and Vaughn singled him home to increase the lead. Quintana grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were up 6-1.
Paul Quantrill took over on the mound with Bob Zupcic now in left field for the top of the eighth inning. Howard reached on a bunt single to third but foolishly ran all the way to third on a pop up to third by Baerga, getting doubled off first. Belle then crushed a 42,000 foot home run halfway to Everett to cut into the lead. Sorrento singled but Martinez flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 6-2.
Ted Power took over for the bottom of the eighth and got both Cooper and Pena to fly out to left. Rivera beat out an infield single and Fermin managed to boot a ground ball by Fletcher AND throw it away to boot for a double error to put runners on second and third. Hatcher walked to load the bases but Zupcic took strike three to end the inning.
Ken Ryan was brought in to finish off the top of the ninth inning. Hill flied out to right and Alomar grounded out to third before Jeff Treadway pinch hit for Fermin. Treadway walked but Lofton's bunt to third was snuffed out to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-2.
Hero of the Night is Frank Viola. He tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball without walking anyone to earn the win.
The Good:
Billy Hatcher was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
Mike Greenwell was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch, 2 rbis and a run scored.
Ernie Riles pinch ran for Andre Dawson and scored.
Mo Vaughn was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Luis Rivera was 2 for 4.
Ken Ryan pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Bob Zupcic struck out as a pinch hitter.
Scott Cooper was 0 for 4.
Paul Quantrill gave up a run in the top of the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Scott Fletcher was just 1 for 5 but made the hit count as it was a 2 run home run. He scored 2 total runs.
Andre Dawson was just 1 for 4.
Carlos Quintana was 0 for 3 but walked.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Another good pitching performance by a Sox starter. If this offense produces like today, the Sox could challenge Toronto for AL East supremacy. Viola, Roger Clemens and Danny Darwin could be a triple threat if healthy. Its too bad this team can't hit consistently, maybe Quintana can regain the form he had from 1990 and 1991. Its doubtful Viola can be the ace he was in 1987 but starts like these will be accepted every time. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox play the Indians again with John Dopson getting the start opposite Mike Bielecki at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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