As for the game, what an unmitigated disaster to start the season for the Red Sox offense. The same crew that set MLB records for total bases and extra base hits have done almost nothing in three games out of four to start the season against Baltimore. Tonight the Sox bats scratched together two runs against Orioles starter Matt Riley then were completely blanked by the Orioles bullpen for the next 6 2/3 innings. On the other side of the ball, Tim Wakefield lasted 5 2/3 and allowed just two runs of his own. The Sox bullpen held the fort for the next six innings but in the 13th inning, Bobby Jones (0-1, 5.40 ERA) walked the bases loaded then walked home Larry Bigbie to end it. The Orioles had won the game 3-2 in 13 innings at Camden Yards.
The Sox struck first in the top of the first against Riley as Johnny Damon continued his hot streak with a base hit to left to start. Riley had Damon picked off....if he didn't throw the ball away to allow Johnny to reach second. Bill Mueller struck out swinging but Damon moved to third on the grounder to short by Ellis Burks. Manny Ramirez grounded a base hit up the middle to score Damon with the game's first run. Kevin Millar walked but David McCarty flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Wakefield got the ball in the bottom of the first and Brian Roberts walked to start. Roberts stole second but Melvin Mora struck out swinging. Miguel Tejada grounded out to third but Rafael Palmeiro flied out to center to end the inning.
Mark Bellhorn led off the top of the second with a fly out to right. Doug Mirabelli grounded out to short and Pokey Reese took strike three to end the inning. Javy Lopez doubled to right to start the bottom of the second but Jay Gibbons grounded back to Wakefield. David Segui flied out to center and Luis Matos flied out to left to end the inning.
Damon was finally retired with a grounder to third to start the top of the third but Mora threw a ball away to allow Mueller to reach first on an error. Burks grounded out to third to move Bill to second but Ramirez took strike three to end the inning. Larry Bigbie grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third before Roberts struck out swinging. Mora grounded out to short to end the inning.
Millar grounded out to short to start the top of the fourth before McCarty struck out swinging, Bellhorn grounded out to third to end the inning. The O's struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Tejada grounded out to short to begin. Suddenly Wakefield lost his command as he walked Palmeiro, Lopez and Gibbons to load the bases. Segui got a base hit to center to score Palmeiro and Lopez to put Baltimore on top. Wakefield struck out Matos swinging and Bigbie grounded out to first to end the inning with the O's in front 2-1.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fifth as Mirabelli grounded out to short to start. Reese grounded back to the mound and Damon grounded out to second to end the inning. Roberts grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fifth but Mora pounded a ground rule double into the right field stands. Tejeda lined out to right but Mora moved to third on a wild pitch, Palmeiro struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the six although Mueller lined out to right. Burks then hit his first Sox home run in 12 years to tie the game. Ramirez flied out to right and Millar popped up to short to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Wakefield returned briefly in the bottom of the sixth as Lopez walked to start. Gibbons struck out swinging and Sox manager Terry Francona had seen enough. Wakefield had thrown 102 pitches and Terry didn't want Tim to get hurt on a cold April night. He lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on 3 hits and 5 walks. Definitely needs to tone the walks down. Alan Embree came in and froze Segui for strike three before Matos also watched strike three go by to end the inning.
The Sox blew the big rally in the top of the seventh as McCarty and Bellhorn walked to start. Sox manager Terry Francona then made the inexplicable decision to have Cesar Crespo pinch hit for Mirabelli. To make matters worse, Crespo struck out when his bunt attempt went foul. Jason Varitek pinch hit for Reese and walked to load the bases. With a chance to go ahead.....Damon lined out to short and Mueller lined out to first to end the inning. What a waste! Bigbie took strike three to start the bottom of the seventh but Roberts walked to chase Embree. Mike Timlin came in and Roberts was thrown out at second trying to steal. Mora walked but Tejada took strike three to end the inning.
Burks struck out swinging to start the top of the eighth before Manny lined out to right. Millar grounded out to short to end the inning. Scott Williamson came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Palmeiro flied out to right to start. Lopez got a base hit to center but Gibbons lined out to center. Segui struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jorge Julio came in to pitch the top of the ninth and David Ortiz pinch hit for McCarty. Ortiz flied out to left, Bellhorn popped up to second and Crespo grounded out to second to end the inning. Matos lined out to right to start the bottom of the ninth and Bigbie grounded back to the mound. Roberts flied out to center to end the inning and send the game to extra innings.
Varitek popped up to second to start the top of the tenth and Damon lined out to left. Mueller struck out swinging to end the inning. Keith Foulke came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth and Mora led off with a double to right. Mora moved to third on a wild pitch but Foulke got a huge out when Tejada struck out swinging. Palmeiro was intentionally walked to set up the double play but Lopez popped up to center. Damon isn't a good thrower so Mora tested Johnny and the throw came in.....YOU'RE OUTTA THERE! Mora was out at home and the game continued.
Mike DeJean came in to pitch the top of the eleventh and Burks struck out swinging to start. Ramirez walked and Millar got a base hit to center to move Manny to third. Buddy Groom came in to pitch to Ortiz and Gabe Kapler came in to run for Ramirez. The gamble failed as Ortiz lined out to second. Bellhorn walked to load the bases for.....Crespo. Cesar struck out swinging to end the inning. Gibbons got a base hit to center to start the bottom of the eleventh and Joe Bautista ran for him. Bautista made a booboo by leaving the bag early when Damon made a catch in deep center. The appeal throw to first worked as Bautista was called out. Matos flied out to right to end the inning.
Varitek got a base hit to left to start the top of the 12th but Damon struck out swinging. Mueller forced Jason at second and Rodrigo Lopez came in to face Burks. Ellis popped up to Tejada to end the inning. Bobby Jones came in to pitch the bottom of the 12th and Bigbe singled to right to start. Roberts dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Larry to second but Mora flied out to center. Tejada was intentionally walked and Palmeiro grounded out to second to end the inning.
Kapler popped up to first to start the top of the 13th and Millar grounded out to third. Ortiz singled to right but Bellhorn took strike three to end the inning. Things finally ended in the bottom of the 13th as Lopez walked to start. Bautista struck out swinging but Segui walked. Matos walked to load the bases and Bigbe walked to win the game, scoring Lopez. The O's had won it 3-2 in 13 innings.
Jackass of the Night is Bobby Jones. He walked the bases loaded and the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 13th.
The Good:
David Ortiz was 1 for 3.
Jason Varitek was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Tim Wakefield allowed just 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed 3 hits but 5 walks while striking out 5 batters.
Alan Embree tossed a full scoreless inning.
Mike Timlin got the final two outs of the seventh inning.
Scott Williamson tossed two scoreless innings.
Keith Foulke tossed two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Bill Mueller was 0 for 6 with 2 strikeouts.
Gabe Kapler was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Doug Mirabelli was 0 for 2.
Cesar Crespo was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Pokey Reese was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Johnny Damon was just 1 for 6 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Ellis Burks was just 1 for 6 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a home run.
Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and drove in a run.
Kevin Millar was just 1 for 5 but drew a walk.
David McCarty was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
Mark Bellhorn was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked twice.
Final Thoughts:
That sucked. The Boston bats, the supposed best in baseball has been silenced in three of the first four games this season although they managed to win one of those games. The Boston Bullpen from innings 6-12 matched the Orioles but unfortunately Bobby Jones wasn't ready for prime time. In the long term, there will be better options than Bobby Jones as the season progresses and hopefully the offense wakes up so that kind of situation doesn't happen. To be fair, the bats are a little bit banged up with Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra out a while but the guys that are there have to step up. Getting shut down by the Orioles in three out of four is not a good look, especially with the New York Yankees on the horizon. Still, Pedro Martinez won't be that bad all season and the bullpen looks good despite the hiccup by Jones. Its a long season and its not over after just four games despite what Boston and New York talk radio will have you believe. The Sox come home to play their home opener tomorrow afternoon. Bronson Arroyo makes his season debut against Ted Lilly of the Toronto Blue Jays. The game begins at 3:00 PM at Fenway Park.
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