When you think of getting shut out by the Atlanta Braves you usually think that Tom Glavine, John Smoltz or last night's starter Greg Maddux doing it. Not today young fella. Tonight it was Terry Mulholland that shut down the Red Sox. Aided by 4 shut-out innings by the bullpen, the Braves pounced on starter Pete Schourek (2-6, 4.08 ERA) and cruised to a 6-0 victory at Turner Field. How many runs did the Red Sox score Dean Wormer?
The Sox did nothing in the top of the first although Jose Offerman singled to start. Darren Lewis sacrificed Jose to second before he moved to third on the grounder by Nomar Garciaparra. Mike Stanley grounded out to short to end the inning. Schourek did manage to do well in the top of the first inning as Quilvio Veras grounded out to short to start. Andruw Jones popped up to first before Chipper Jones walked. Andres Galarraga flied out to left to end the inning.
Mulholland cruised in the top of the second as Carl Everett popped up to short to start. Jason Varitek lined out to second and Troy O'Leary grounded out to first to end the inning. Schourek did his job in the bottom of the second as Brian Jordan grounded out to short to start. Javy Lopez grounded back to the mound but Reggie Sanders doubled. Walt Weiss whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox accomplished nothing in the top of the third as Wilton Veras flied out to center to start. Schourek himself whiffed before Offerman swung and missed for strike three to end the inning. The Sox were embarrassed in the bottom of the third as Mulholland himself led off with a double. Veras grounded out to short but Andruw Jones doubled home Mulholland but got thrown out in a rundown. Chipper Jones grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 1-0 Braves.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Lewis lined back to the mound to start. Nomar singled but Stanley banged into a double play to end the inning. The Braves again in the bottom of the fourth as Galarraga led off with a 300,000 foot home run to give the Braves the lead. Jordan and Lopez stroked back to back singles before Jordan moved to third on the Sanders fly out to left. Weiss put the Braves on top with a triple to center before Schourek punched out Mulholland. Veras walked and that was it for Schourek. Sox manager Jimy Williams pulled Pete after just 3 2/3 innings. Tim Wakefield came in and Rafael Furcal pinch ran for Weiss. Veras stole second before a passed ball scored Furcal and advanced Veras to third. Andruw Jones popped up to second to end the inning but it was all over, 5-0 Braves.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fifth although Everett singled to start. Varitek whiffed, O'Leary popped up to center and Veras lined out to right to end the inning. Wakefield found his groove in the bottom of the fifth although Chipper Jones walked to start. Galarraga banged into a double play and Jordan looked at strike three to end the inning.
Kerry Ligtenberg came in to pitch the top of the sixth with Manny Alexander pinch hitting for Wakefield. Alexander popped up to third but Offerman singled. Lewis looked at strike three but Nomar flied out to center to end the inning. Rob Stanifer came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth as Lopez grounded out to third to begin. Sanders lined out to left and Furcal flied out to left to end the inning.
Still nothing doing in the top of the seventh inning as Stanley whiffed to start. Furcal booted a ground ball hit by Everett but Varitek banged into a double play to end the inning. Wally Joyner pinch hit for Ligtenberg to open the bottom of the seventh only to ground out to second to begin. Veras lined out to center and Andruw Jones grounded out to short to end the inning.
Rudy Seanez came in to pitch the top of the eighth and O'Leary walked to start. Trot Nixon pinch hit for Veras only to strike out swinging. Scott Hatteberg flied out to left but Offerman singled. Brian Daubach pinch hit for Lewis and whiffed to end the inning. Donnie Sadler came in to play third, Nixon took over in right and Rheal Cormier took the mound for the bottom of the eighth. Chipper Jones doubled, Galarraga singled and Jordan scored Jones with a sac fly. Lopez whiffed and Sanders grounded out to third to end the inning with the Braves up 6-0.
The torture ended in the top of the ninth with Don Wengert on the mound. Nomar and Stanley drew back to back walks before Braves manager Bobby Cox said to hell with it and brought in Mike Remlinger. Everett whiffed before Varitek banged into a double play to end the game. The Braves had won it 6-0.
Jackass of the Night should be the entire offense but Pete Schourek gets it this time. Not that the Sox were gonna generate any offense but he got lit up for 5 runs in just 3 2/3 innings.
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 3 for 4.
Nomar Garciaparra was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Tim Wakefield tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Rob Stanifer pitched 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Darren Lewis was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Brian Daubach struck out as a pinch hitter.
Jason Varitek was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Wilton Veras was 0 for 2.
Trot Nixon struck out as a pinch hitter.
Manny Alexander was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Rheal Cormier allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Ugly:
Mike Stanley was 0 for 3 but walked.
Carl Everett was just 1 for 4.
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 2 but walked.
Honorable Mention:
Donnie Sadler played third in the bottom of the eighth.
Final Thoughts:
If the Boston Red Sox want to be an elite team in MLB, they have to beat the elite teams. Getting trounced by the New York Yankees and the Braves just isn't going to cut it. Its one thing to get shut down by one of the Braves aces but to get shut down by Mulholland is just embarrassing. If the offense wasn't in a season long slump maybe things would be different but it just doesn't look good right now. As for the game, you're not going to win too many games with just 5 hits and they certainly didn't in this one. The Sox look to avoid a sweep tomorrow afternoon when they send Ramon Martinez to the mound to face Tom Glavine. 10 years ago this would have been a monster match but today its just another game at 1:10 PM at Turner Field.
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