Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Shockingly the Sox sent down Lou Merloni to Pawtucket to make room for the returning Chris Stynes coming off the Disabled List. Craig Grebeck can't hit for beans and Merloni was on a hot streak before today's game, this is one of the first head scratching moves of the 2001 season by the Sox who have done everything right so far
With all of the hype and publicity Manny Ramirez has been deservingly getting lately, Carl Everett reminded fans in tonight's game that he was their top slugger last year. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the second inning to the Minnesota Twins, Everett clobbered a grand slam home run to put the Red Sox up for good. The 1-2 punch of Everett and Ramirez has been tough to beat for AL pitchers this year and Everett delivered in this one. Paxton Crawford (2-0, 2.55 ERA) tossed 5 innings of 3 run ball to earn the win, combining with Tomo Ohka to pick up where they left off last season. Dante Bichette also homered, Tim Wakefield tossed the final four innings to earn the save and the Sox beat the Twins 9-4 at Fenway Park.
The Twins jumped all over Crawford in the top of the first inning as Denny Hocking flied out to center to start. Luis Rivas hit a home run all the way to Dublin, Ireland to give the Twins the lead. Matt Lawton walked, Corey Koskie got a base hit to center and David Ortiz got a base hit to right to score Lawton. Koskie moved to third on the Ortiz hit and he scored on a Torii Hunter grounder to third. Doug Mientkiewicz walked but Jacque Jones grounded into a force to end the inning with the Twins up 3-0.
The Sox struck back in the bottom of the first against Twins starter Mark Redman as Chris Stynes returned from the Disabled List to get a base hit to left. Jose Offerman singled to center but Carl Everett struck out swinging. Manny Ramirez singled to left to load the bases but Dante Bichette struck out swinging.....only for the ball to get away from the catcher and Stynes scored on a mad dash home. Scott Hatteberg grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox were down 3-1.
AJ Pierzynski grounded out to short to start the top of the second and Hocking flied out to left. Rivas struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the second as Shea Hillembrand grounded out to second to start. Mike Lansing singled to center but Darren Lewis flied out to center. Stynes got a base hit to center and Lansing took third on a wild pitch. Offerman walked to load the bases and Everett pounded a grand slam into the screen to give the Sox the lead. Ramirez singled to left to chase Redman and JC Romero came in to pitch. Bichette grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3.
Lawton grounded out to first to start the top of the third and Koskie grounded out to second. Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning. Hatteberg grounded out to first to start the bottom of the third before Hillenbrand struck out swinging. Lansing grounded out to second to end the inning.
Hunter flied out to center to start the top of the fourth before Mientkiewicz doubled to right. Jones singled Doug to third but Pierzynski struck out swinging. Hocking grounded into a force to end the inning. Lewis and Stynes both lined out to third to begin the bottom of the fourth and Offerman grounded out to first to end the inning.
Rivas popped up to second to start the top of the fifth but Lawton singled to right. Koskie flied out to right and Ortiz grounded out to first to end the inning. That was it for Crawford who allowed 3 runs in 5 innings to set himself up for the win.
The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the fifth as Everett grounded out to short to start. Ramirez flied out to center but Bichette plastered his first home run of the season to left but Hatteberg grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.
Tim Wakefield took over for the top of the sixth and Hunter singled to left to start. Hunter stole second on the Mientkiewicz swinging strikeout and took third on the Jones grounder to first. Pierzynski grounded out to third to end the inning. Hillenbrand grounded out to first to start the bottom of the sixth and Lansing also grounded out to first. Lewis took strike three to end the inning.
Wakefield got tagged in the top of the seventh inning although Hocking flied out to center to start. Rivas popped up to second but Lawton hit a home run all the way to Lisbon, Portugal to cut the lead. Koskie struck out swinging to end the inning but the Twins were down 6-4.
The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the seventh as Stynes singled to right to start. Offerman doubled Stynes to third and Everett singled home Jose to increase the lead. Everett moved to second on the Ramirez grounder and Bichette was intentionally walked to load the bases. Eddie Guardado came in to pitch to Hatteberg and Trot Nixon pinch ran for Bichette. Hatteberg flied out to left and Lansing lined out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-4.
Craig Grebeck came in to play short with Lewis moving to left and Nixon moving to right to begin the top of the eighth inning. Ortiz flied out to right, Hunter struck out swinging and Mientkiewicz grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the eighth with Travis Miller now on the mound. Grebeck doubled to right and Lewis doubled him home before Stynes moved Lewis to third on a grounder to first. Offerman grounded out to third but Everett walked. Ramirez lined a base hit to left to score Lewis to wrap up the scoring. Nixon struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-4.
Wakefield came back to finish the job in the top of the ninth and Jones popped up to second to start. Pierzynski and Hocking both struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-4.
The Good:
Chris Stynes was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored.
Jose Offerman was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Manny Ramirez was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
Dante Bichette was 1 for 3 with a walk including a solo home run.
Mike Lansing was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Craig Grebeck was 1 for 1 with a run scored.
Paxton Crawford earned the win with 5 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 6 hits and 2 walks.
Tim Wakefield earned his second save by tossing 4 innings and allowing just 1 run.
The Bad:
Trot Nixon struck out in his only at-bat.
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 4.
Shea Hillenbrand was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The Twins are currently leading the AL Central and the Sox smacked them around pretty good. Everett served notice that he's still a dangerous hitter and can pick up the slack if Manny Ramirez has an off-day. The thing is Manny hasn't had an off-day yet and the Sox are rolling because of it. Crawford didn't pitch that great today but he did just enough to earn the win. The rubber armed Wakefield saved the bullpen for the next day with his serviceable performance. Its a wonder why the Sox sent Merloni to Pawtucket instead of Grebeck but Craig responded with a hit once he came into the game. If Stynes can give the Sox a shot in the arm, obviously his return won't be a bad thing. All in all it was a good win against a good team and the Sox look to make it two in a row against the Twins tomorrow night. Pedro Martinez goes for the Sox up against Brad Radke of the Twins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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