Martinez Mesmerizes Mariners (4/11/98)

The Boston Red Sox may have found their ace to replace the departed Roger Clemens. Pedro Martinez (2-0, 0.39 ERA) was absolutely masterful for his third start in a row in a Red Sox uniform. Today he took a Seattle Mariners team that had homered in almost every game this season and totally shut them down. The dangerous Mariners offense was held no runs, 2 hits and 2 walks in a complete game shutout by Martinez. Jim Leyritz led the attack with a 2 run homer and another run driven in as the Sox offense pounded out 14 hits and 5 runs to make Pedro a winner in his first game in Boston 5-0 at Fenway Park.

                                           Steve Austin and Mike Tyson approve of the win

Martinez made his Fenway debut in the top of the first inning and Joey Cora popped up to first to start. Alex Rodriguez popped up to center and Ken Griffey Jr lined out to Nomar Garciaparra in a shift to end the inning. Old pal Jamie Moyer got the start for the Mariners and Nomar led off the bottom of the first by grounding out to short to start. John Valentin lined a base hit up the middle before Mo Vaughn whiffed. Jim Leyritz stuck his bat out and doubled to the wall, Valentin scoring the game's first run. Troy O'Leary was robbed of a base hit by David Segui to end the inning but it was 1-0 Sox.

                                                            Leyritz drives in a run

Edgar Martinez was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to start the top of the second before Segui grounded out to short. Glenallen Hill whiffed to end the inning. Damon Buford grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the second before Scott Hatteberg grounded out to short. Darren Lewis reached on a ground ball booted by Cora before swiping second. Mike Benjamin grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Martinez blew away Rick Wilkins to start the top of the third before Russ Davis also whiffed. Charles Gipson was blown away on a fastball to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the third although Nomar popped up to center to begin. Valentin poked a single up the middle and swiped second before Vaughn cracked a double to the centerfield fence to score Valentin. Leyritz pounded the first pitch thrown to him into the screen for a 2 run homer to ice it. O'Leary doubled into the right field corner but Buford popped up to left. Hatteberg grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.

                                               Leyritz ices it

Cora got the Mariners first hit with a base hit to left to start the top of the fourth but A-Rod whiffed. Griffey Jr flied out to the centerfield wall before Martinez walked. Segui whiffed to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the fourth as Lewis singled under the glove of Cora to start. Benjamin dropped down a perfect bunt to advance Lewis to second before Nomar tripled into the right field corner to increase the lead. Valentin popped up to short and Vaughn whiffed to end the inning but it was 5-0 Sox.

                                                     A triple by Nomar

Hill walked to start the top of the fifth inning but Martinez banged into a double play. Davis whiffed again to end the inning. Moyer froze Leyritz to begin the bottom of the fifth but O'Leary got a base hit to center. Buford watched strike three go by and Hatteberg grounded out to first to end the inning.

Gipson tried to catch the Sox asleep with a bunt but it went right to Vaughn for the out to start the top of the sixth. Cora popped up to third but Rodriguez singled to center. Griffey Jr whiffed to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the sixth although Lewis grounded out to sort to start. Benjamin and Nomar hit back to back singles but Valentin popped up to short. Vaughn flied out to right to end the inning.

Pedro Martinez got Edgar Martinez to ground out to second to start the top of the seventh on a nice play by Benjamin. Segui popped up to left and Hill became Martinez' 9th strikeout victim to end the inning. Bob Wells came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and walked Leyritz to start. O'Leary and Buford both flied out to left but Hatteberg singled to third. Lewis looked at strike three to end the inning.

Martinez returned for the top of the eighth inning and got his 1,000th career strikeout when Wilkins went down swinging to start. Davis was frozen for strike three before Jeff Huson pinch hit for Gipson only to pop up to first to end the inning.

                                                         8 shutout innings for Martinez

Benjamin beat out an infield single to third to begin the bottom of the eighth but Nomar flied out to right. Valentin popped up to third and that was it for Wells. Old buddy Tony Fossas came in and got Vaughn to fly out to center to end the inning.

Martinez returned to finish his work in the top of the ninth and Cora lined out to right to start. Rodriguez whiffed to be Martinez' 12th strikeout victim before Griffey Jr popped up to first to end the game. Martinez tossed a complete game 2 hit shutout as the Sox made it two in a row at Fenway with a 5-0 win.

                                                        What a day for Pedro


The Co-Heroes of the night are Jim Leyritz and Pedro Martinez. Leyritz was 2 for 3 with 3 total rbis, a run scored and a two run home run.

                                              Hero number 1 - Leyritz

Pedro Martinez pitched a complete game 2 hit shutout while walking 2 and striking out 12

                                                Hero number 2 - Martinez


The Good:

Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

John Valentin was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

Troy O'Leary was 2 for 4.

Mike Benjamin was 2 for 3.



The Bad:

Damon Buford was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

Mo Vaughn was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.

Scott Hatteberg was just 1 for 4.

Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4 but stole a base and scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

Talk about an eventful past two days. First the dramatic comeback yesterday and then Pedro throws a gem not seen since Roger Clemens striking out 20 two years ago. If Martinez is truly the real deal then the Sox have something to build on for the future. The lineup can counter the Cleveland Indians but they'll need Pedro, Brett Saberhagen and the other starters to be lights out if they have any hope of the playoffs this year. The Sox may want to resign Mo Vaughn sooner rather than later because Martinez could be the tonic they need to contend for years to come. Shutting down this Mariners team is certainly not easy. Tomorrow the Sox look to sweep the Mariners when they send Tim Wakefield to the mound up against lefty Jeff Fassero of Seattle. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Stun Mariners in Amazing Comeback (4/10/98)

Talk about a memorable home opener. For 8 1/2 innings it looked like just another blowout win for the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners rode starter Randy Johnson to a 7-2 lead after eight innings. Boston Red Sox rookie Brian Rose lasted just 5 1/3 innings and the Sox bullpen surrendered four runs after he left. Then in the bottom of the ninth the Sox pulled off a huge rally. The Sox rallied off former Sox closer Heathcliff Slocumb and Mike Timlin to cut the lead 7-5 when Mo Vaughn capped off the comeback with a walkoff grand slam against Paul Spoljaric. What was a 7-2 deficit turned into a dramatic, come from behind 9-7 win at the home opener at Fenway Park.

                                                    Vaughn gets mobbed at home

Rose got the ball in the top of the first and Joey Cora popped up to left to start. Alex Rodriguez flied out to right but Ken Griffey Jr walked. Damon Buford made a great diving catch to rob Edgar Martinez of extra bases to end the inning.

                                                                 Great catch Buford

Randy Johnson got the ball in the bottom of the first and Nomar Garciaparra led off by striking out on a pitch in the other batter's box to start. John Valentin doubled high off the Monster and Mo Vaughn got plunked, but Jim Leyritz swung and missed at three straight pitches. Jason Varitek struck out swinging to end the inning.

Rose slipped delivering a pitch to start the top of the second and clearly hurt his ankle. Brian recovered to strike out David Segui swinging and get Glenallen Hill to ground out to second. Dan Wilson looked at strike three right down the middle to end the inning. Buford led off the bottom of the second by getting rung up for strike three to start. Mark Lemke popped up to second and Darren Bragg swung and missed for strike three to end the inning.

Russ Davis led off the top of the third by hitting a grounder off Valentin that was ruled as a single. Robert Perez then popped up a bunt that was snared by Varitek who doubled off Davis for the double play. Cora was hit with a pitch but Rodriguez popped up to left to end the inning. Lewis tried to bunt his way on to start the bottom of the third but it was snuffed out by Wilson to start. Nomar hit a bullet to Segui and Valentin popped up to first to end the inning.

Rose cruised in the top of the fourth as Griffey Jr flied out to center to start. Martinez singled to center but Segui banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fourth although Vaughn took strike three right down the middle to start. Leyritz was plunked and moved to second on the Varitek grounder. Buford then smashed a line drive home run into the screen in left to give the Sox the lead. Lemke took strike three to end the inning but the Sox led 2-0.

                                                            Buford's first home run

Rose hung tough in the top of the fifth as Hill grounded out to short to start. Wilson grounded back to the mound but Davis singled down the right field line. Perez grounded into a force to end the inning. Bragg walked to start the bottom of the fifth but Lewis whiffed badly. Bragg swiped second and Nomar walked, but Valentin and Vaughn both struck out swinging to end the inning.

The wheels fell off for Rose in the top of the sixth as Cora walked to start. Rodriguez beat out an infield single to third but Griffey Jr whiffed. Martinez doubled both runners home to tie the game. That was it for Rose who had outpitched Randy Johnson up until that last at-bat. Jim Corsi came in to pitch and Segui hit a routine grounder to Valentin....who booted it for an error to score Martinez with the go-ahead run. Segui moved to third on the Hill grounder but Wilson flied out to right to end the inning with the Mariners ahead 3-2.

                                                Rose deserved a better fate

Johnson cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Leyritz took strike three to start. Varitek also watched strike three go by and Buford grounded out to short to end the inning.

Corsi returned in the top of the seventh and Davis took strike three to start. Perez whiffed and Cora hit a routine grounder to Valentin...booted for another error. Rodriguez whiffed to end the inning. Lemke whiffed to begin the bottom of the seventh before Bragg grounded out to third. Lewis walked and Nomar was plunked, but Valentin flied out to right to end the inning.

The Mariners looked to ice the game in the top of the eighth when Steve Avery came in to pitch only to allow a leadoff double to Griffey Jr. Dennis Eckersley came in and Martinez singled off Eck to put runners at the corners. Segui hit a bullet to Vaughn who doubled off Martinez for the double play, but Hill singled home Griffey to increase the lead. Charles Gipson pinch ran for Hill and promptly stole second. Wilson singled home Gipson to increase the lead. Davis singled to center but Perez popped up to second to end the inning with the Mariners ahead 5-2.

                                                Mariners increase the lead

Johnson came back for one more inning in the bottom of the eighth and Vaughn took strike three to start Leyritz whiffed for Johnson's 16th strikeout of the game. Varitek flied out to a running Griffey Jr to end the inning, what a game by Johnson.

The Mariners struck back in the top of the ninth with Tom Gordon now on the mound. Cora beat out an infield single to Nomar and promptly swiped second. Rodriguez tripled off the top of the right field wall to score Cora and Griffey Jr walked to put runners on the corners. Martinez hit a fly ball to center to score Rodriguez to increase the lead. Segui hit a routine grounder to Nomar who kicked the ball and shouted GOALLLL! for an error to chase Gordon. Rich Garces came in and promptly uncorked a wild pitch to move the runners over. Gipson took strike three and Wilson flied out to left to end the inning with the Mariners ahead 7-2.

                                                          It didn't look good

Old pal Heathcliff Slocumb came in to close out the bottom of the ninth with Troy O'Leary pinch hitting for Buford to start. O'Leary tapped a single to right and Lemke walked. Bragg doubled into the right field corner to score O'Leary and chase Slocumb. Originally Scott Hatteberg was going to pinch hit for Lewis but Mariners manager Lou Piniella countered with old friend Tony Fossas. Sox manager Jimy Williams then pulled back Hatteberg and put in the right handed Mike Benjamin to pinch hit. The gamble worked as Fossas walked Benjamin to load the bases. Mike Timlin came in to pitch to Nomar and Garciaparra dumped a base hit to center to score Lemke. Valentin was plunked to score Bragg and set the stage for the end. Paul Spoljaric came in to pitch to Vaughn and he clobbered a walkoff grand slam into the right field corner to win the game. The Sox had scored 7 runs without making an out to win it 9-7.

                                                                RED SOX WIN!!!

Hero of the Night is Mo Vaughn. He hit the walkoff grand slam to give the Sox the victory.

                                                              Big Mo Hero

The Good:

Nomar Garciaparra was 1 for 3 with a walk, hit by pitch, rbi and a run scored.

Damon Buford was 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 total rbis.

Troy O'Leary singled and scored as a pinch hitter.

Darren Bragg was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base, rbi and a run scored.

Mike Benjamin walked and scored as a pinch hitter.

Brian Rose allowed 3 runs in just 5 1/3 innings although only 2 were earned.

Jim Corsi tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Rich Garces got the win with 2/3 of a scoreless inning.

The Bad:

Jason Varitek was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Steve Avery allowed a double to the only man he faced.

Dennis Eckersley allowed an inherited runner to score and one of his own in an inning.

Tom Gordon allowed 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.

The Ugly:

John Valentin was just 1 for 4 with 2 errors but drove in a run and scored.

Jim Leyritz was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but was hit with a pitch and scored a run.

Mark Lemke was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.

Darren Lewis was 0 for 2 but walked.

Honorable Mention:

Scott Hatteberg "pinch hit" in the bottom of the ninth.

Final Thoughts:

Hopefully this is a harbinger for a good season because the Sox have been struggling to open the season. They were headed to a 3-6 record to start but the dramatic comeback saved their bacon. Still, they opened the season with 8 straight road games and that's always tough. Rose looked pretty good today but the bullpen was horrible. The errors didn't help but if the bullpen is a problem, this season may turn out like last year. Pedro Martinez helps the rotation but he's going to need some serious help. The Sox look to continue their winning ways tomorrow afternoon when they send Martinez (1-0) to the mound up against old buddy Jamie Moyer of the Mariners. The game begins at 1:15 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Pull Away Late, Down A's (4/2/98)

So far so good for the new look 1998 Boston Red Sox. Pedro Martinez was impressive in his debut last night and today the offense responded by getting to the Oakland A's bullpen. Sox starter Tim Wakefield and Oakland starter Kenny Rogers fought to a 3-3 stalemate with both out of the game by the end of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Mo Vaughn put the Sox ahead with an rbi single and Jim Leyritz added an rbi hit of his own to put the Sox on top. The Sox bullpen responded with 3 scoreless innings including Tom Gordon slamming the door in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox beat the A's 6-3 in Oakland Coliseum.

                                                     Sting approves of the win

Rogers got the ball in the top of the first inning and Nomar Garciaparra grounded out to short to start. John Valentin grounded out to short but Mo Vaughn walked. Jim Leyritz grounded out to second to end the inning. Wakefield got the ball in the bottom of the first and Rickey Henderson popped up to short to start. Jason McDonald singled to center and Ben Grieve popped up to short. McDonald stole second but Matt Stairs struck out swinging to end the inning.

Rookie Jason Varitek made his season debut in the top of the second with a pop up to first in foul territory. Damon Buford made his Sox debut with a fly out to right but Troy O'Leary drew a walk. Darren Lewis grounded out to first to end the inning. The A's struck first in the bottom of the second as Jason Giambi singled in the hole at second to short. Mike Blowers was hit with a pitch and Giambi took third on the Scott Spiezio fly ball to right. AJ Hinch scored Giambi with a sac fly to give the A's the lead then Rafael Bournigal flied out to left to end the inning with the A's up 1-0.

                                                              Giambi scores a run

Donnie Sadler lined out to first to start the top of the third and Garciaparra lined out to right. Valentin also lined out to right to end the inning. Henderson popped up to left to start the bottom of the third before McDonald grounded out to first. Grieve lined out to third to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the fourth although Vaughn grounded out to first to start. Leyritz walked, Varitek singled to center and Buford walked to load the bases. O'Leary singled to center to score Leyritz to tie the game and Lewis was hit with a pitch to score Varitek. Sadler hit a sac fly to center to score Buford and increase the lead. Garciaparra lined out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.

                                                               First rbi for Sadler

The A's answered in the bottom of the fourth as Stairs singled to right and Giambi doubled him home to cut the lead. Blowers grounded out to third, Spiezio popped up to left and Hinch struck out swinging to end the inning with the A's down 3-2.

                                                        Stairs scores a run

Valentin grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth and Vaughn struck out swinging. Leyritz flied out to right to end the inning. Bournigal grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fifth before Henderson also grounded out to short. McDonald took strike three to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the sixth as Varitek grounded out to third to start. Buford doubled to left, O'Leary walked and Lewis singled to right to load the bases. Billy Taylor came in to pitch and Sox manager Jimy Williams countered by sending Reggie Jefferson in to pinch hit for Sadler. Giambi made a diving catch on a pop up but Buford tried to come home. Giambi fired home and Buford was out by a mile to end the inning, what a waste.

                                                            Yerrrr out!

Mike Benjamin came in to play second in the bottom of the sixth and Grieve walked to start. Stairs singled to left but was forced at second by Giambi. Blowers singled to left to score Grieve and tie the game, but Spiezio moved Giambi to third with a fly ball to center. That was it for Wakefield as John Wasdin made his season debut by plunking Hinch to load the bases. Bournigal lined out to left to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

                                                            Wakefield almost goes six

The Sox went up for good in the top of the seventh as Nomar singled in the hole at short to start before moving to third on the single in the hole at second by Valentin. Lefty Buddy Groom came in to pitch to Vaughn and Mo singled home Garciaparra with a base hit to left. Leyritz singled to center to score Valentin but Varitek flied out to center. Buford took strike three and O'Leary lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3.

                                                          Vaughn drives in a run

Henderson flied out to left to start the bottom of the seventh but McDonald singled to center. McDonald stole second but Grieve watched strike three go by. Steve Avery was brought in to pitch but old buddy Kevin Mitchell came in to pinch hit for Stairs. Mitchell popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning.

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the eighth as Lewis grounded out to short to start. Aaron Small came in to pitch and Benjamin doubled to left. Benjamin took third on a wild pitch and Garciaparra scored him with a base hit to left. Nomar was thrown out trying to steal and Valentin flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.

                                                           Benjamin scores a run

Jim Corsi came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Giambi walked to start. Blowers struck out swinging but Nomar booted a grounder by Spiezio to put runners at the corners. Dave Magadan pinch hit for Hinch and banged into a double play to end the inning.

Izzy Molina took over behind the plate with former Milwaukee Brewers closer Mike Fetters now on the mound for the top of the ninth. Vaughn struck out swinging but Leyritz singled to left. Midre Cummings made his Red Sox debut by pinch running for Leyritz but Varitek struck out swinging. Cummings stole second but Buford struck out swinging to end the inning.

                                                              First steal for Cummings

Tom Gordon came in to close out the bottom of the ninth with old pal Shane Mack pinch hitting for Bournigal to start. Mack lined out to right, Henderson took strike three and McDonald lined out to first to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-3.

Hero of the Night is Mo Vaughn. He drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning.

                                                                 Hero Mo

The Good:

Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.

Jim Leyritz was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.

Midre Cummings stole a base as a pinch runner.

Troy O'Leary was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and an rbi.

Darren Lewis was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and an rbi.

Mike Benjamin was 1 for 1 at the plate with a run scored.

John Wasdin got the win with a full scoreless inning.

Steve Avery retired the only man he faced.

Jim Corsi tossed a scoreless eighth inning.

Tom Gordon earned his second save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Reggie Jefferson was 0 for 1 at the plate.

The Ugly:

John Valentin was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.

Jason Varitek was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Damon Buford was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

Donnie Sadler was 0 for 1 but drove in a run.

Tim Wakefield lasted just 5 2/3 innings and allowed 3 runs for a no-decision.

Final Thoughts:

Never a bad thing to win the first two games of the season. The bullpen saved the day today after Wakefield was gone in the sixth inning, they didn't give an inch. The offense was pretty good and Vaughn is looking for a new contract after the season. If he has a great year, how can you not re-sign him? Garciaparra continues to be the best leadoff hitter in the game and hopefully that can keep up through the season. The advantage of Gordon in the bullpen has already shown as he's looked very good so far. Getting him out of the rotation could be the best decision made by Sox manager Jimy Williams. All in all it was a good win and hopefully the Sox can keep the momentum going as they now travel to Seattle for a three game set with the reigning AL West champion Mariners. Derek Lowe gets the start against his former team against Ken Cloude of the Mariners. The game begins tomorrow night at 10:05 PM Eastern time at the Kingdome.

Martinez Dazzles on Opening Day (4/1/98)

So that's what an ace is like? After the Boston Red Sox let Roger Clemens walk at the end of 1996, they didn't get an ace pitcher for the 1997 season. Their 78-84 record on the season last year showed how well that went. After Sox GM traded for the National League's best pitcher in Pedro Martinez (1-0, 0.00 ERA), the Sox now have a legitimate ace again. Martinez was outstanding, tossing 7 shutout innings while striking out 11 Oakand A's. The Sox bats were silenced by Oakland starter Tom Candiotti but they managed to scratch out two runs. A sac fly by Darren Bragg put the Sox on top and a sac fly by John Valentin were all the runs the Sox would score. Dennis Eckersley made his return to Boston after 14 years with a scoreless eighth and new closer Tom Gordon slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth. The 1998 Red Sox started the season on the right foot with a 2-0 win over the A's at the Oakland Coliseum.

                                              Marliece Andrada approves of the win

Candiotti got the ball in the top of the first and AL Rookie of the Year Nomar Garciaparra led off by lining back to the mound. John Valentin struck out swinging on a knuckleball down and away but Mo Vaughn lined a single to right for the season's first hit. Reggie Jefferson flied out to deep center to end the inning. Martinez made his Red Sox debut in the bottom of the first and Rickey Henderson led off with a fly out to left. Dave Magadan struck out looking and shook his head walking back to the dugout before Ben Grieve grounded out to second to end the inning.

Troy O'Leary opened the top of the second inning by trying to pull the ball, ending up grounding out to second. Scott Hatteberg popped up to second and Darren Lewis made his Red Sox debut by popping up to first in foul territory to end the inning. Old pal Matt Stairs struck out swinging to open the bottom of the second before Jason Giambi also went down hacking. Scott Spiezio lined out to right to end the inning.

Darren Bragg went down hacking to begin the top of the third and 22 year old rookie Donnie Sadler made his major league debut by grounding out to third. Nomar flied out to center to end the inning. AJ Hinch grounded out to third to begin the bottom of the third before Jason McDonald struck out swinging. Rafael Bournigal flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox threatened in the top of the fourth as Valentin flied out to center to start. Vaughn and Jefferson stroked back to back singles and Mo moved to third on the O'Leary liner to right. Jefferson took second on a passed ball but Hatteberg grounded out to first to end the inning. Henderson grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth and Magadan also grounded out to second. Grieve singled to right and Stairs walked, but Giambi whiffed to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the fifth as Lewis reached on an error by Spiezio to begin. A wild pitch moved Lewis to third and he scored on the Bragg sac fly. Sadler flied out to center and Nomar grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 1-0 Sox.

                                                         Bragg drives in a run

More than enough cushion for Martinez as he turned up the heat to freeze Spiezio to start the bottom of the fifth. Hinch and McDonald both went down swinging to end the inning.

Boston threatened again in the top of the sixth as Valentin singled to left to begin. Vaughn took strike three but Jefferson flied out to left. O'Leary singled Valentin to third but Hatteberg grounded out to second to end the inning. Bournigal flied out to right to start the bottom of the sixth but Henderson walked. Magadan flied out to center and Grieve struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the seventh as Lewis beat out an infield single to short and Bragg doubled him to third. Sadler was plunked to load the bases but Lewis was thrown out at home on a force by Nomar. Valentin scored Bragg with a sac fly to increase the lead but Vaughn grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                             Valentin drives in a run

The A's mounted a threat in the bottom of the seventh as Stairs and Giambi stroked back to back singles to start. Spiezio dropped down a bunt to move both runners over but Martinez struck out Hinch swinging on a nasty curveball. McDonald took strike three to end the inning. That was it for Martinez who was great in his first start, tossing 7 shutout innings while striking out 11 batters.

                                                       Amazing debut for Martinez

Mike Mohler came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Jim Leyritz pinch hit for Jefferson to start. Leyritz struck out swinging and O'Leary went down hacking as well. Hatteberg grounded out to short to end the inning. Dennis Eckersley made his first appearance for the Sox in 14 years in the bottom of the eighth and old buddy Shane Mack pinch hit for Bournigal. Mack flied out to left but Henderson singled to left. Henderson stole second and moved to third on the grounder by Magadan. Sox manager Jimy Williams took no chances and brought in new closer Tom Gordon for the four out save. Grieve grounded out to second to end the inning.

                                                   Welcome back Eck

Jason Wood took over at short with TJ Mathews now on the mound for the top of the ninth. Lewis flied out to center, Bragg struck out swinging and Sadler flied out to center to end the inning. Gordon got Stairs to ground out to short to start the bottom of the ninth and Giambi grounded out to third. Spiezio whiffed to end the game. The Sox had won Opening Day 2-0.

                                                     Sox win

Hero of the Night is Pedro Martinez. He earned his first win of the season by tossing 7 shutout innings while striking out 11 batters.

                                                             Martinez is the Hero

The Good:

John Valentin was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Mo Vaughn was 2 for 4.

Reggie Jefferson was 1 for 3.

Darren Bragg was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Dennis Eckersley tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.

Tom Gordon earned his first save of the season with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 4.

Jim Leyritz struck out as a pinch hitter.

Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Donnie Sadler was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch in his ML debut.

Final Thoughts:

I think the Sox have found their new ace. After losing Roger Clemens in 1996, the Sox were desperate for a new ace and they may have found one in Martinez. Pedro was outstanding today and this is the guy they need if they hope to be good again. The offense was nothing to write home about on Opening Day but with Pedro on the mound, the little that they did was just enough. It was good to see Donnie Sadler make his ML debut and get on base even if it wasn't conventionally. Gordon didn't look good as a starter last year but he looked great in relief today. If he can turn into a dependable relief pitcher, that's a big shot in the arm for this team. Its always good to win on Opening Day to start the season off on a positive note and the Sox look to continue their winning ways tomorrow afternoon against the A's. Tim Wakefield makes his season debut for the Sox up against A's ace Kenny Rogers at 3:15 PM Eastern time at Oakland Coliseum.