Wakefield got the ball in the top of the first and ex-New York Yankees nemesis Chuck Knoblauch led off with a ground out to second. Neifi Perez flied out to left but Carlos Beltran reached on an error by Shea Hillenbrand at third. Mike Sweeney grounded out to third to end the inning. Dan Reichert got the ball for the Royals in the bottom of the first and Johnny Damon walked to start. Rey Sanchez hit a pop up to left but Knoblauch inexplicably let it drop. Damon was thrown out at second on the play and Nomar Garciaparra banged into a double play to end the inning.
Michael Tucker flied out to center to start the top of the second but Joe Randa singled in the hole at short. Randa stole second on the Raul Ibanez swinging strikeout but Brent Mayne grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second when Reichert threw a grounder by Manny Ramirez away for an error to start. Tony Clark flied out to center but Brian Daubach smashed his first home run of the season to put Boston on top. Hillenbrand atoned for his error with a base hit to left but Trot Nixon hit into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Wakefield cruised in the top of the third as Carlos Febles lined out to short to start. Knoblauch and Perez both struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox iced the game early in the bottom of the third although Jason Varitek grounded out to second to start. Damon beat out a ground ball to third but Sanchez struck out swinging. Nomar doubled Damon to third and Ramirez crushed his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Clark grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox led 5-0.
Wakefield cruised in the top of the fourth as Beltran grounded out to second to start. Sweeney flied out to center and Tucker took strike three to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fourth as Daubach singled to right to begin. Hillenbrand flied out to left but Nixon doubled to left. Varitek failed to move anyone with a grounder to second and Damon was intentionally walked. Sanchez forced Daubach at third to end the inning.
Wakefield fell apart in the top of the fifth as Randa singled in the hole at third to start. Ibanez singled to right but Maybe flied out to left. Febles singled to left to load the bases and Knoblauch cleared them with a grand slam to cut the lead. Perez grounded out to short and Be;tran flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 5-4. That was it for Wakefield who made one mistake to Knoblauch but it was a big one as he allowed 4 runs in 5 innings of work.
The Sox got two of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth as Garciaparra clobbered his third home run of the year to increase the lead. Blake Stein relieved Reichert and Ramirez doubled to center. Clark grounded out to second but Daubach doubled home Manny to add to the total. Hillenbrand and Nixon both struck out swinging to end the inning but it was 7-4 Red Sox.
Casey Fossum came in to pitch the top of the sixth and struck out Sweeney to start. Tucker went down hacking but Randa walked. Brandon Berger pinch hit for Ibanez and took strike three to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Varitek led off with his second home run of the year. Damon grounded out to third but Sanchez singled to center. Nomar flied out to right and Ramirez took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-4.
The Royals beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the seventh as Mayne grounded out to first to start. Febles grounded out to first and Knoblauch grounded out to short to end the inning. Jeremy Affeldt came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Clark took strike three to start. Daubach went down hacking and Hillenbrand grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Willie Banks made his season debut in the top of the eighth and Perez struck out swinging to start. Beltran grounded out to first and Sweeney grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the eighth as Nixon ripped a base hit to right to start. Varitek singled to right to move Trot to third but Damon hit a bullet to Febles who doubled off Jason at first. Sanchez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Banks returned to close out the top of the ninth and Tucker grounded out to second to start. Randa grounded out to third and Luis Alicea pinch hit for Berger only to ground out to second to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-4.
Hero of the Night is Manny Ramirez. His 3 run homer was the difference in the game.
The Good:
Johnny Damon was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Rey Sanchez was 2 for 5.
Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 runs scored.
Brian Daubach was 3 for 4 with a 2 run homer and 3 total rbis.
Trot Nixon was 2 for 4.
Jason Varitek was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Casey Fossum tossed two scoreless innings.
Willie Banks pitched two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Tony Clark was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Shea Hillenbrand was just 1 for 4 with an error and a strikeout.
Tim Wakefield got the win but allowed 4 runs in just 5 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
Now THAT'S what the offense can do when firing on all cylinders. Nomar, Manny, Daubach & Damon all were instrumental in getting on base and the long balls helped. Clark had a bad day but normally he'd be contributing as well. When Nixon, Sanchez and Varitek also hit well this offense is tough to beat. Wakefield only gave up one mistake to Knoblauch and the duo of Fossum & Banks slammed the door. Banks showed promise at the end of last year so hopefully he can combine with Rich Garces and Ugueth Urbina to shorten the games. Other than the inconsequential error by Hillenbrand and the grand slam by Knoblauch there isn't much to complain about. All in all it was a good win and the Sox look to make it five in a row tomorrow night against the Royals. Derek Lowe (1-0, 0.00 ERA) takes on Paul Byrd of Kansas City. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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