Pedro Wins Again, Halts Streak (4/9/00)

It looks like its "Pedro and pray for rain" this year for Boston Red Sox fans. After an opening day win with Pedro Martinez (2-0) on the mound, the other 4 starters faltered. It was up to Pedro to halt the losing streak and he did. The Red Sox were victorious at Edison Field against the Anaheim Angels by a score of 5-2.

                                                            Happy Fan

Jose Offerman led the game off against Kent Bottenfeld and walked. Trot Nixon and Brian Daubach flied out to right and Nomar Garciaparra singled. Troy O'Leary lined out to end the inning. Pedro got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Darin Erstad greeted him with a single. Erstad was erased on the force by Adam Kennedy. Kennedy swiped second and advanced to third on the Mo Vaughn ground out. Tim Salmon struck out to end the inning.

Carl Everett and Mike Stanley flied out to center to open the top of the second. Jason Varitek popped up to end the inning. Pedro made quick work of the Angels in the bottom of the second. Garret Anderson, Troy Glaus and Scott Spiezio all struck out in short order.

Manny Alexander struck out to open the top of the third, Offerman flied out and Nixon struck out to end the inning. Matt Walbeck singled off Pedro to start the bottom of the third. Benji Gil sacrificed him to second but Erstad grounded out and Kennedy flied out to end the threat.

The Sox struck first in the top of the fourth. Daubach struck out and Nomar flied out. Suddenly both O'Leary and Everett hit back to back jacks to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. Stanley grounded out but the Sox were on the board. Vaughn grounded out to start the bottom of the fourth. Salmon singled but both Anderson and Glaus struck out to end the inning.

The Sox threatened in the top of the fifth. Varitek whiffed but Alexander doubled. Offerman worked a walk and Nixon grounded out, advancing both runners. Unfortunately Daubach grounded out to end the inning. Pedro began the bottom of the fifth by striking out Spiezio and Walbeck. Gill singled but Erstad struck out to end the inning

Boston struck back in the top of the 6th. Nomar walked and O'Leary singled him to third. Everett scored Nomar on the sac fly and O'Leary was foolishly thrown out trying to steal second. Stanley walked and Varitek flied out to end the inning, but it was now 3-0 Sox. Pedro continued to dazzle in the bottom of the frame. Kennedy popped up then both Vaughn and Salmon struck out. That's 11 K's for Pedro on the day.

Al Levine took over in the top of the seventh inning and the Sox made him pay. Alexander and Offerman flied out but Nixon swatted a home run to make it 4-0. Daubach grounded out to end the inning. Pedro continued to dominate in the bottom of the 7th. Anderson grounded out and Glaus whiffed for the third time today. Spiezio grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox home run parade continued in the top of the 8th inning. Nomar grounded out but O'Leary smashed his second home run of the day to make it 5-0. Everett flied out but Stanley and Varitek stroked back to back singles. Mike Fyhrie replaced Levine and got Alexander to ground into a force. Pedro finally ran out of gas in the bottom of the eighth inning. Walbeck grounded out to Pedro but Gil singled. Gil swiped second and Erstad walked, chasing Pedro after 7 1/3 gutty innings and 12 K's. Derek Lowe came in and Adam Kennedy greeted him with a single that scored Gil when Everett's throw sailed wide. Vaughn struck out and Salmon grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox went quietly in the top of the ninth. Offerman grounded out and as both Nixon and Daubach struck out to end their day. Lowe returned to the mound to close out the game, leading 5-1. Anderson grounded out and Glaus earned a golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout. Spiezio lofted a home run to cut the lead 5-2. Walbeck grounded out to end the game, the Sox had won.

Hero of the Night is Troy O'Leary. He was 3 for 4 and bashed 2 home runs.

The Good:

Nomar Garciaparra was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Carl Everett was 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 total rbis. Mike Stanley was 1 for 3 with a walk. Pedro Martinez was brilliant going 7 1/3 giving up a run on 5 hits, a walk and 12 strikeouts.


The Bad:

Brian Daubach was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.


The Ugly:

Jose Offerman was 0 for 3 but walked twice. Trot Nixon was just 1 for 5 but the one hit was a home run. Jason Varitek and Manny Alexander were both just 1 for 4 with a strikeout. Derek Lowe gave up a home run in an inning and a third.