Viola began his dominance in the top of the first inning when Joey Cora flied out to right to start. Mike Huff doubled to left before moving to third on the Frank Thomas grounder. George Bell flied out to right to end the inning. Rod Bolton got the start for the White Sox and Scott Fletcher grounded out to short to begin. Bob Zupcic singled to right and moved to second on the grounder Mike Greenwell. Andre Dawson flied out to center to end the inning.
Robin Ventura tried to rally the White Sox in the top of the second with a leadoff double to start. Ellis Burks grounded out to short before Ventura was caught in a rundown during a Bo Jackson grounder. Carlton Fisk flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Mo Vaughn walked and somehow stole second. Ivan Calderon whiffed but Scott Cooper singled home Vaughn to give the Sox the lead. Tony Pena popped up to the pitcher before Cooper got caught checking out some girl in the crowd and got picked off to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Ozzie Guillen grounded out to third to begin the top of the third inning but Cora drew a walk. The alert Pena gunned down Cora trying to steal and its a good thing he did because Huff beat out an infield single. Thomas grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the third although Luis Rivera popped up to second to start. Fletcher singled and swiped second base before Zupcic walked. Greenwell singled home Fletcher to increase the lead. Dawson banged into a double play to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 2-0.
Bell singled to center to start the top of the fourth but Ventura hit into a double play. Burks grounded out to second to end the inning. Vaughn tried to start a rally in the bottom of the fourth with a base hit to right but Calderon banged into a double play. Cooper singled to right but Pena forced him at second to end the inning.
Viola cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Jackson whiffed to start. Fisk flied out to center and Guillen grounded out to third to end the inning. Bolton matched Viola in the bottom of the fifth as Rivera grounded out to third to start. Fletcher popped up to short and Zupcic flied out to left to end the inning.
Cira grounded out to short to open the top of the sixth before Huff took strike three. Thomas doubled off the Monster but Bell lined out to right to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the sixth as Greenwell tripled into the centerfield gap to begin. Dawson lined out to center but Greenwell scored to increase the lead. Vaughn grounded out to short and Calderon grounded out to short as well to end the inning.
Viola got in trouble in the top of the seventh but Ventura grounded out to second to begin. Burks flied out to right but Jackson singled. Fisk singled to center but Guillen popped up to third to end the inning. Bolton cruised in the bottom of the seventh as Cooper grounded out to first to start. Pena lined out to left and Rivera popped up to second to end the inning.
Viola got Cora to ground out to second to start the top of the eighth before Huff took strike three. Thomas grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the eighth as Fletcher singled to left to begin. Zupcic hit one up the elevator shaft and that was it for Bolton. Scott Radinsky came in and Greenwell singled Fletcher to third. Dawson singled home Fletcher to wrap up the scoring. Jeff Richardson pinch ran for Dawson but Vaughn whiffed. Calderon grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
Viola came out to finish the job in the top of the ninth as Bell grounded out to third to start. Ventura flied out to left but Burks and Jackson stroked back to back singles. Fisk lined out to second to end the game. The BoSox won the game 4-0.
Hero of the Night is Frank Viola. He tossed a complete game shutout scattering 9 hits and a walk to guide the BoSox to victory.
The Good:
Scott Fletcher was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.
Bob Zupcic was 1 for 3 and a walk.
Mike Greenwell was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Andre Dawson was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis.
Mo Vaughn was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and run scored.
Scott Cooper was 2 for 3 with an rbi.
The Bad:
Ivan Calderon was 0 for 4 with a strike out.
Tony Pena was 0 for 3.
Luis Rivera was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
None
Honorable Mention:
Jeff Richardson pinch ran in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Final Thoughts:
If Viola and Joe Hesketh can keep this up, the Sox may have something this year. The offense seems to have found its groove and the pitching has been phenomenal to start the season. Clemens and Viola look unhittable and if Danny Darwin can pick things up, they could be a contender again. Its only April but they already look improved from last year. Bob Zupcic has been filling in admirably for Billy Hatcher and when Billy comes back, his speed along with Fletcher will give opposing pitchers fits. It may not last but for the first 3 weeks of the season, its been fun. Tomorrow will be the Patriots Day game against the White Sox at a special start time. John Dopson takes on Alex Fernandez at 11:00 AM at Fenway Park.
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