The good news was David Cone made his Red Sox debut by making the start in tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins. On top of that, Manny Ramirez hit career home run number 250. The bad news was Cone didn't last long and Brad Radke became MLB's first seven game winner by shutting down the Sox. The Boston bats bolted to a 3-0 lead but Cone was knocked out in the fourth inning. Rolando Arrojo (1-2, 4.37 ERA) got knocked around for a couple of runs and the Twins took the lead. The lead held up and the Twins knocked off the Red Sox with a 5-3 win over them at the Metrodome.
Radke got the ball in the top of the first and Trot Nixon popped up to second to start. Scott Hatteberg grounded out to short and Carl Everett flied out to right to end the inning. Cone made his debut in the bottom of the first and Cristian Guzman flied out to center to start. Denny Hocking flied out to left but Matt Lawton walked. Corey Koskie flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second inning as Manny Ramirez doubled to center to begin. Troy O'Leary lashed a base hit to center to score Ramirez and Shea Hillenbrand got a hit to center. Brian Daubach flied out to left, Lou Merloni popped up to short and Mike Lansing struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox would have just 3 hits the rest of the game but they led 1-0.
Doug Mientkiewicz grounded out to first to start the bottom of the second before Chad Allen grounded out to short, Jacque Jones struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the third as Nixon grounded out to first to start. Hatteberg lined out to left but Everett singled to left. Ramirez then blasted his 250th career home run to increase the lead. O'Leary struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0. The Sox would have just one hit from here on.
The Twins struck back in the bottom of the third although Hunter grounded out to third to start. Pierzynski grounded out to first but Guzman walked. Hocking was hit with a pitch and Lawton singled home Guzman to cut the lead. Lawton stole second but Koskie took strike three to end the inning with the Twins down 3-1.
Hillenbrand grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth and Daubach flied out to center. Merloni took strike three to end the inning, Cone's comeback was shortlived in the bottom of the fourth as Mientkiewicz hit a home run all the way to Billings, Montana to cut the lead. Allen walked and stole second before Jones walked. That was it for Cone who in his first start since October allowed 2 runs in 3 plus innings of work. Rolando Arrojo came in and Hunter flied out to right. Pierzynski struck out swinging and Guzman grounded out to first to end the inning with the Twins down 3-2.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fifth as Lansing grounded out to third to start. Nixon grounded out to first and Hatteberg grounded out to short to end the inning. The Twins went up for good in the bottom of the fifth as Hocking singled to left to start. Lawton singled to center and Koskie hit a home run all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to give the Twins the lead. Mientkiewicz singled to left but Allen flied out to right. Jones flied out to center and Hunter struck out swinging to end the inning with the Twins up 5-3.
Jason Maxwell took over at second to begin the top of the sixth and Everett grounded out to short to start. Ramirez lined back to the mound and O'Leary grounded out to short to end the inning. Pierzynski grounded out to first to start the bottom of the sixth before Guzman lined out to second. Maxwell doubled to left but Lawton grounded out to first to end the inning.
Hillenbrand flied out to right to begin the top of the seventh before Daubach flied out to left. Merloni singled to center but Lansing flied out to center to end the inning. "El Guapo" Rich Garces came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Koskie grounded out to second to start. Mientkiewicz grounded out to first but Allen walked. Jones singled to left but Hunter struck out swinging to end the inning.
Radke cruised in the top of the eighth as Nixon flied out to center to start. Hatteberg lined out to second and Everett struck out swinging to end the inning. Rod Beck came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Pierzynski flied out to left to start. Guzman singled to right but was doubled off first on the great catch by Nixon off the bat of Maxwell to end the inning.
Radke came back to finish the job in the top of the ninth and Ramirez struck out swinging to start. O'Leary struck out swinging and Hillenbrand grounded out to third to end the game. Radke had thrown a complete game 6 hitter to beat the Red Sox 5-3.
Jackass of the Night is Rolando Arrojo. He allowed the backbreaking 3 run homer to Koskie to take the loss.
The Good:
Manny Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a 2 run homer and 2 runs scored.
Lou Merloni was 1 for 3.
Rich Garces pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Rod Beck pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Trot Nixon was 0 for 4.
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 4.
Brian Daubach was 0 for 3.
Mike Lansing was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
David Cone lasted 3 plus innings and allowed 2 runs.
The Ugly:
Carl Everett was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Shea Hillenbrand was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
Good to see Cone back but he didn't last long. Chalk it up to first game jitters but either way his short outing isn't good considering the Sox fired Tomo Ohka and Paxton Crawford down to Pawtucket in order to make room for David. Still, if Cone falters either one of those guys can be brought back up. As it is, he just didn't have it today. The first two innings went great but then seemed to get hit around. Maybe it'll take a while to get his wind back but either way the kind of effort he gave today isn't going to cut it. The postage stamp strike zone didn't help either. As for the other side of the ball, once again the Sox got to a starter early only for him to turn around and pitch like Cy Young the rest of the game. Radke gave up just six hits in the game and his one mistake to Ramirez. Arrojo giving up the bomb was the difference in the game. He had been good up to that point, just have to tip your cap to the Twins and say "ya got me." The loss dropped the Sox to 23-17, 1.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Kansas City for a set with the Royals. Pedro Martinez (5-0) goes for the Sox up against Blake Stein of the Royals. The game begins at 8:05 PM Eastern time at Kauffman Stadium.
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