Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Byung-Hun Kim was activated from the Disabled List and Phil Seibel was optioned to Pawtucket so Kim could make the start today in Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Now its going to be Kim vs Bronson Arroyo as who's going to be the fifth starter going forward.
As for the game, welcome back Byung-Hun Kim (1-0, 0.00 ERA) who made his return from the Disabled List to make the start in Game 1 in today's double header against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Kim tossed 5 shutout innings to earn the win while the Boston bats did just enough against Victor Zambrano. David Ortiz hit a two run shot in the bottom of the fifth and Mark Bellhorn added a sacrifice fly in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, David McCarty was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded to score a run and the Sox bullpen held the fort. The Sox took Game 1 of the doubleheader 4-0 at Fenway Park.
Kim got the ball in the top of the first inning and immediately Brian Daubach booted a grounder by Carl Crawford for an error. Crawford stole second but Rocco Baldelli flied out to center. Robert Fick also flied out to center but a wild pitch moved Crawford to third. Aubrey Huff flied out to right to end the inning. Zambrano got the ball in the bottom of the first and Johnny Damon walked to start. Bill Mueller struck out swinging and Damon got thrown out at second on a steal attempt. That proved costly as David Ortiz doubled off the bottom of the Monster and Manny Ramirez took strike three to end the inning.
Jose Cruz Jr walked but was hit with a line drive by Tino Martinez for an interference out. Julio Lugo grounded into a double play to end the inning. Daubach grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second and Kevin Millar took strike three. Mark Bellhorn walked but Doug Mirabelli struck out swinging to end the inning.
Brook Fordyce led off the top of the third by striking out swinging and Geoff Blum grounded out to second. Crawford also grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the third as Cesar Crespo singled up the middle to start. Damon forced Crespo at second but Mueller walked. Ortiz walked to load the bases but Ramirez took strike three again. Daubach forced Ortiz at second to end the inning.
Baldelli flied out to center to start the top of the fourth as Fick also popped up to center. Huff popped up to Manny and Ramirez dropped a pop up by Aubrey to avoid a collision with Crepo. Cruz lined out to center to end the inning. Zambrano turned up the heat in the bottom of the fourth as Millar struck out swinging to begin. Bellhorn and Mirabelli both whiffed to end the inning.
Kim returned for one final inning in the top of the fifth as Martinez grounded out to second to start. Lugo grounded out to short and Fordyce struck out swinging to end the inning. Kim was outstanding, allowing just one hit and a walk in 5 shutout innings.
The Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth as Crespo flied out to right to start. Damon got a base hit to right but Mueller forced him at second. Ortiz pounded his fifth home run of the season to dead center to put Boston on top. Ramirez earned the hat trick by striking out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
Tim Wakefield came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Blum beat out a roller to second to start. Crawford flied out to left and Baldelli hit a grounder to Daubach. Brian got the out at first but threw the ball into left field to allow Blum to reach second. Fick took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the sixth as Daubach doubled to center to start. Brian moved to third on a liner to center by Millar. Bellhorn hit a sac fly to center to score Daubach and increase the lead. Mirabelli froze for strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Good work Daubach
David McCarty came in to play first in the top of the seventh and Huff popped up to short to start. Cruz Jr grounded out to first but Martinez got a base hit to center. Lugo struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the seventh as Crespo got a base hit to right to start. Damon grounded into a double play but Mueller walked. Ortiz doubled off the Monster and Ramirez was intentionally walked. Travis Harper came in to pitch to McCarty and hit him to score Mueller. Millar struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
Gabe Kapler came in for Millar with Mike Timlin now on the mound for the top of the eighth. Fordyce popped up to short to start and Blum grounded out to short. Crawford grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Bellhorn took strike three to start the bottom of the eighth before Mirabelli doubled to center to chase Harper. Trever Miller came in to pitch and Crespo struck out swinging. Damon grounded out to short to end the inning.
Baldelli grounded out to first to start the top of the ninth and Sox manager Terry Francona inexplicably brought Alan Embree in to close out the game. Fick flied out to center and Huff grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-0.
Sox win
Big Papi Hero
Doug Mirabelli was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Hero of The Night is David Ortiz. His two run home run put the Sox up for good.
The Good:
Bill Mueller walked twice in four plate appearances and scored two runs.
Brian Daubach was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
David McCarty was hit with a pitch to drive in a run.
Cesar Crespo was 2 for 4.
Byung-Hun Kim got the win with 5 shutout innings allowing just a hit and a walk.
Tim Wakefield tossed two scoreless innings.
Mike Timlin tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Alan Embree got the final two outs of the ninth inning.
The Bad:
Kevin Millar was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Johnny Damon was just 1 for 4 but walked.
Manny Ramirez was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Mark Bellhorn was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked and drove in a run.
Doug Mirabelli was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Honorable Mention:
Gabe Kapler played right field in the final two innings.
Final Thoughts:
Talk about great pitching by the Red Sox as they've posted their third straight shutout. Kim came off the Disabled List and got the win and the red hot bullpen slammed the door. The offense did just enough to win as Ortiz tagged Zambrano for a two run shot and McCarty getting hit with the bases loaded was entertaining. The Sox seem to have the answer to last year's problem with shut down pitching to go along with their big bats. Kudos to guys like Cesar Crespo and Brian Daubach who weren't even the conversation going into Spring Training but helped out big time in this one. The bullpen may not be as lights out moving forward as it is now so enjoy it while it lasts. Five wins in a row is nothing to sneeze at, but six would be better. The Sox look to win their sixth game in a row and the second game of this doubleheader in a few hours when Derek Lowe (2-1) gets the start for the Sox against Damian Moss of Tampa Bay. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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