The Sox wasted no time scoring against Craig Lefferts in the top of the first inning. Scott Fletcher motored around for a leadoff triple but Billy Hatcher made his season debut by popping up to short. Mike Greenwell lined out to first but Andre Dawson singled home Scott for the early lead. The returning Carlos Quintana, who missed all of last year recovering from his car accident, grounded into a force to end the inning but it was 1-0 Sox.
The Rocket took the mound in the bottom of the first and cruised. David Hulse grounded out to second, Rafael Palmeiro flied out to center and Jose Canseco lined out to short to end the inning.
Lefferts settled down in the top of the second inning but getting Ivan Calderon to pop up to third to start. Scott Cooper grounded back to the mound and Tony Pena grounded out to short to end the inning. The Rangers threatened in the bottom of the second when Juan Gonzalez hit a routine grounder to Quintana at first, only for Carlos to belly flop on the ball and dry land swim on it for an error. Julio Franco flied out to right but Dean Palmer singled. Ivan Rodriguez was hit with a pitch to load the bases but Roger got a huge out when he blew away Benji Gil. Billy Ripken lined out to second to end the inning.
Luis Rivera popped up to first to begin the top of the third inning before Fletcher lined out to second. Hatcher grounded out to short to end the inning. Clemens blew away Hulse to start the bottom of the third and then he froze Palmeiro for strike three. Canseco singled but the alert Pena gunned him down trying to steal to end the inning.
The Sox couldn't score in the top of the fourth inning as Greenwell grounded out to first to start. Dawson beat out an infield single to short but Quintana flied out to left. Calderon flied out to right to end the inning. Clemens stayed tough in the bottom of the fourth as he got Gonzalez to ground out to third to begin. Franco flied out to right but Palmer singled. The alert Pena gunned down Palmer trying to steal to end the inning.
The Sox absolutely exploded in the top of the fifth inning as Cooper singled to begin. Pena beat out an infield single to third and things looked bleak when Rivera popped up a bunt. The Sox caught a miraculous break when Palmer dropped the ball and Cooper made a mad dash home to increase the lead. The floodgates opened as Fletcher singled home Pena and Hatcher singled home Rivera. Greenwell grounded back to the mound but Fletcher and Hatcher moved into scoring position. Dawson was intentionally walked to load the bases for Quintana. The comeback tour was complete as Quintana singled home Fletcher and Hatcher, chasing Lefferts from the game. Brian Bohanon replaced Lefferts and Calderon walked to re-load the bases. The rally ended as Dawson was forced at home by a Cooper force and Pena lined to first to end the inning. The Sox blew it open to lead 6-0.
With a huge lead, Bob Zupcic replaced Dawson in right field to begin the bottom of the fifth inning. Rodriguez grounded back to the mound but Gil singled. Doug Strange pinch hit for Ripken and Clemens blew him away. Hulse whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox failed to score in the top of the sixth inning as Rivera grounded out to second to begin. Fletcher grounded out to short but Hatcher singled. Greenwell flied out to center to end the inning. Clemens got tagged in the bottom of the sixth as Palmeiro grounded out to second to start. Canseco hit one up the elevator shaft but Gonzalez blasted a 950,000 foot home run halfway to Peterborough. Franco flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox were up 6-1.
The Sox answered in the top of the seventh inning although Zupcic grounded out to second to start. Quintana and Calderon stroked back to back singles before Cooper singled in Quintana with Ivan moving to third. Pena hit a sac fly to score Calderon and Rivera whiffed to end the inning with the Sox up 8-1.
Clemens finished with a flurry in the bottom of the seventh inning. Palmer singled to right but Rodriguez flied out to right. Clemens blew away Gil and Strange to end the inning. Clemens went 7 innings and allowed only 1 run, he was outstanding.
Robb Nen took over for the top of the eighth with John Russell now behind the plate. Ernie Riles pinch hit for Fletcher and grounded out to second. Hatcher singled and Greenwell doubled. Nen uncorked a wild pitch and Greenwell scored but Hatcher foolishly tried to score from second, failing miserably by getting thrown out. Zupcic walked but Quintana grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-1.
Jeff Richardson took over at second base with Tony Fossas now on the mound to begin the bottom of the eighth. Doug Dascenzo pinch hit for Hulse and doubled. Gary Redus pinch hit for Palmeiro and singled Dascenzo to third. Sox manager Butch Hobson fell down getting out of the dugout and brought in Paul Quantrill. Canseco banged into a double play but Dascenzo scored. Gonzalez grounded out to short to end the inning with the score 9-2.
Dan Peltier took over in right for the top of the ninth as Calderon whiffed to start. Cooper walked but was erased on the force by Pena. Rivera walked and Richardson singled to score Pena but Rivera was foolishly thrown out in a rundown to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-2.
Hero of the night is Carlos Quintana. He missed all of last year and he capped off the 5th inning rally to give the Sox the easy win.
The Good:
Scott Fletcher was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Jeff Richardson singled to drive in a run in the 9th.
Billy Hatcher was 3 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Andre Dawson was 2 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.
Bob Zupcic walked once in two plate appearances.
Scott Cooper was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and run scored.
Roger Clemens got the win by pitching 7 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 7.
Paul Quantrill pitched 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Ernie Riles was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Tony Fossas faced two batters and both reached.
The Ugly:
Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 5.
Ivan Calderon was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored twice.
Luis Rivera was 0 for 4 but walked and scored.
Final Thoughts:
If only the offense could perform like this all the time, they could challenge Toronto for AL East supremacy. The pitching was their strong suit last year and if they can come close this year, maybe an improved offense will carry them. Obviously they're not the Blue Jays but days like this sure are fun. Getting Carlos Quintana back and healthy would be a huge lift because it would save wear on tear on the veterans Calderon and Dawson. Clemens looked spectacular as usual but if they want to contend, they're going to need the other starters to step up. Tomorrow afternoon Danny Darwin goes for the Red Sox opposite Kevin Brown at 2:05 PM at Arlington Park.
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