Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. With the bullpen taxed of late due to extra inning games, the Sox designated Brian Daubach for assignment and called up another old friend, Frank Castillo to take his place. Daubach just simply doesn't have a place on this team since they already have Kevin Millar for offense and Dave McCarty for defense. Its a shame because he was one of their better hitters from 2000 to 2002. Castillo was a solid 10-9 for the 2001 Sox before going 6-15 in 2002. He won't be expected to be an ace like he had to be in 2001 with Pedro Martinez injured, just give the bullpen a few innings and fill in when someone gets hurt.
As for the game, things looked bleak for the Red Sox after they got creamed by the Toronto Blue Jays and had to face Roy Halladay the day after. Luckily, Pedro Martinez (1-1, 1.98 ERA) was here to save the day. Pedro was vintage, holding the Jays to just 1 run while pitching into the eighth inning. The Sox got to Halladay when David Ortiz smashed a two run bomb in the sixth followed by a Mark Bellhorn home run in the seventh. A Manny Ramirez homer off Aquilino Lopez in the eighth was the big insurance run as Keith Foulke slammed the door in the ninth. The Sox had beaten Halladay and the Jays 4-1 at Fenway Park.
Pedro got the ball in the top of the first inning and Reed Johnson popped up to Kevin Millar to start. Frank Catalanotto dumped a base hit just in front of Gabe Kapler but Vernon Wells lined out to a running Cesar Crespo. Carlos Delgado popped up to left to end the inning. Halladay took the mound in the bottom of the first and Cesar Crespo led off by looking at strike three on the outside corner. Bill Mueller flied out to left and David Ortiz grounded out to second to end the inning.
Kapler made a great diving catch to rob Josh Phelps of a triple to start the top of the second but Eric Hinske dropped a base hit in front of Gabe. Orlando Hudson struck out swinging on an 88 mph fastball and Chris Woodward took strike three to end the inning.
Manny Ramirez roped a base hit up the middle to start the bottom of the second but Millar was rung up for strike three. Varitek grounded back to the mound to move Manny to second but Kapler popped up to Hinske to end the inning.
Kevin Cash struck out swinging to start the top of the third but Johnson got plunked. Catalanotto took a curveball on the outside corner for strike three and Wells grounded out to third to end the inning. Mark Bellhorn flied out to center to open the bottom of the third but Pokey Reese fisted a single to center. Crespo moved Pokey to second with a grounder to third and Mueller walked. Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning.
Delgado walked to start the top of the fourth but Phelps popped up to Bellhorn. Hinske grounded into a double play to end the inning. Ramirez flied out to the right field warning track to start the bottom of the fourth and Millar struck out swinging. Varitek also struck out swinging to end the inning.
Hudson flied out to a running Crespo to start the top of the fifth before Woodward took strike three. Cash walked but Johnson forced Kevin at second to end the inning. Halladay dominated the bottom of the fifth as Kapler grounded out to second to start. Bellhorn took a curveball at the knees for strike three and Reese popped up to Wells to end the inning.
Catalanotto grounded out to second to start the top of the sixth and Wells flied out to center. Delgado grounded out to second to end the inning. Halladay blinked first in the bottom of the sixth as Crespo slid into first for a single on a grounder to third. Mueller forced Cesar at second but Ortiz clobbered his second home run of the season over the bullpen to give the Sox the lead. Ramirez dumped a base hit to right but Millar flied out to center. Varitek walked but Kapler struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The Jays answered in the top of the seventh as Phelps flied out to the centerfield wall to start. Hinske lined out to the centerfield wall as well and Hudson hit a home run almost to the exact same spot Ortiz did to cut the lead. Woodward flied out to right to end the inning but the Jays were down 2-1.
The Sox got that run instantly back in the bottom of the seventh when Bellhorn clocked his first home run of the season down the line in right. Reese flied out to right but Crespo beat out a roller to second. Mueller grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Martinez returned for one last inning in the top of the eighth as Cash struck out swinging to start. Johnson dumped a base hit to center then on his 106th pitch, Pedro caught Catalanotto looking. Sox manager Terry Francona didn't want to risk Pedro's arm and pulled him after 7 2/3 innings of 1 run ball. He allowed 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. Keith Foulke came in for the four out save and Wells forced Johnson at second to end the inning,
Valerio De Los Santos came in just to face Ortiz in the bottom of the eighth and struck him out swinging. Jays manager Carlos Tosca then brought in Aquilino Lopez to face Ramirez only for Manny to hit his first home run of the season to wrap up the scoring. Millar hit one up the elevator shaft but Varitek walked. Kapler beat out a roller to third but Bellhorn struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Delgado led off the top of the ninth with a fly out to Kapler to start. Phelps singled to center and Dave Berg pinch ran for him. Berg moved to second on the grounder to Millar by Hinske and Hudson flied out to left to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-1.
Hero of the Night is Pedro Martinez. He got the win by outdueling Roy Halladay with 7 2/3 innings of 1 run ball. He allowed 4 hits and 2 walks while punching out 7.
The Good:
Cesar Crespo was 2 for 4.
Manny Ramirez was 3 for 4 with a home run.
Jason Varitek walked twice in four plate appearances.
Pokey Reese was 1 for 3.
Keith Foulke earned his second save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Kevin Millar was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Bill Mueller was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Davis Ortiz was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a two run home run.
Gabe Kapler was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Mark Bellhorn was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a home run.
Final Thoughts:
That was a big win at a big time with the Sox under .500 with Roy Halladay on the horizon. Reports of the Sox demise have been greatly exaggerated as Martinez delivered tonight against the Jays ace. Pedro didn't have the velocity of old but he located much better than his first start. The bats stepped up with three big home runs off Halladay and Pedro going into the eighth saved the beleaguered Boston bullpen. Foulke one again looked great and the quartet of Scott Williamson, Alan Embree, Mike Timlin and Foulke might be as deadly as the New York Yankees bullpen was 4-5 years ago. The Sox may be 3-3 but the season's young and Johnny Damon will be back by the Baltimore series. Just have to survive with what they have until then. The Sox look to take two of three against Toronto on Easter Sunday when Curt Schilling (1-0) take son Miguel Batista of Toronto. The game begins at 2:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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