Fassero got the ball in the top of the first and got Shane Halter to look at strike three. Rich Becker grounded out but Greg Jefferies singled. Juan Gonzalez flied out to end the inning. Jose Offerman led off the bottom of the first with a single off starter Brian Moehler. Offerman was erased on the ground out by Donnie Sadler. Trot Nixon flied out and Brian Daubach popped up to end the inning.
Fassero cruised in the top of the second inning. Dean Palmer struck out, Brad Ausmus popped up and Bobby Higginson struck out to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the second although Carl Everett popped up to begin. Troy O'Leary flied out but Mike Stanley walked and Jason Varitek singled him to third. John Valentin struck out in his first at bat in a month to end the inning.
Fassero continued to pitch well in the top of the third inning. Jose Macias singled but Deivi Cruz banged into a double play. Halter grounded out to end the inning. Moehler kept pace in the bottom of the third. Offerman struck out and Sadler lined out. Nixon popped up to end the inning.
The shut-out continued in the top of the fourth. Becker struck out and Jefferies flied out. Gonzalez walked but Palmer struck out to end the inning. The Sox made a boo-boo in the bottom of the fourth. Daubach singled to lead off the inning Everett and O'Leary flied out, then Daubach was thrown out at third on the single by Stanley to end the inning.
The Tigers finally threatened Fassero in the top of the fifth. Ausmus walked and swiped second on the strikeout by Higginson. Macias struck out and Cruz flied out to end the inning. Moehler kept up with Jeff in the bottom of the fifth. Varitek and Valentin flied out and Offerman grounded out to end the inning.
Halter led off the top of the sixth with a base hit. Three straight groundouts from Becker, Jefferies and Gonzalez ended the inning. The Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Palmer sent the fans screaming into the exits when he chucked a throw into the stands, allowing Sadler to reach second. Sadler was erased at third on the force by Nixon. Daubach whiffed but Everett stepped up and launched a 2 run bomb to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. O'Leary grounded out but the Sox had the lead.
Fassero returned for the top of the seventh and struck out Palmer to open the frame. Ausmus singled but was erased on the force by Higginson. Macias flied out to end the inning. 7 shut out innings by Fassero, outstanding. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the seventh. Stanley blasted his 7th home run of the year to increase the lead 3-0. Varitek singled and that was it for Moehler, Matt Anderson replaced him. Valentin whiffed, Offerman grounded out and Sadler grounded out to end the inning.
Rich Garces came on to pitch the top of the eighth. Cruz flied out and Robert Fick pinch hit for Halter. Fick popped up and Becker whiffed to end the inning. Robert Fick took over at first and Greg Jefferies moved to left field while Allen McDill came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Nixon struck out and Daubach lined out to end McDill's outing. Doug Brocail struck out Everett to end the inning.
Derek Lowe looked to bounce back from his horrible Toronto outing to close out the bottom of the ninth. Maybe Sox manager Jimy Williams learned his lesson to stop throwing Lowe out for two innings. Jefferies lined out and Gonzalez hit one up the elevator shaft. Palmer singled but Ausmus struck out to end the game. The Sox had won it 3-0.
Hero of the Night is Jeff Fassero. He tossed 7 shut out innings, scattering 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8. He earned his 5th win of the season.
The Good:
Mike Stanley was 2 for 2 with a walk, run scored and an rbi off his 7th home run of the year. Jason Varitek was 2 for 3. Rich Garces pitched a scoreless 8th inning. Derek Lowe earned his 9th save with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Donnie Sadler was 0 for 4. Troy O'Leary was 0 for 3. John Valentin made his return to the lineup by going 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Jose Offerman was just 1 for 4. Trot Nixon was 0 for 4 but scored a run. Brian Daubach was just 1 for 4. Carl Everett was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as the two run home run put the Sox on top.
Final Thoughts:
Another win for the Red Sox and another good pitching performance by someone other than Pedro Martinez. The Sox need Fassero to be their dependable second starter and so far its working. Getting Valentin back helps although they may want to keep Wilton Veras in the lineup with Sadler scuffling. Hopefully the way Garces has been pitching convinces Jimy Williams to stop throwing Derek Lowe out for 6 out saves. The win improves the Sox to 25-13, good for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow Pete Schourek (2-3) goes up against Dave Milicki.
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