DuBose got the ball in the top of the first and Johnny Damon chopped one back to DuBose, who threw Johnny out by inches for the first out. Bill Mueller dumped a base hit to right but Ellis Burks banged into a double play to end the inning. Schilling made his debut in a Sox uniform in the bottom of the first by getting Brian Roberts to line out to a jogging Manny Ramirez. Melvin Mora struck out swinging on a changeup in the dirt and Miguel Tejada grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Manny Ramirez drew a walk and nearly got tagged out at second on a bloop single to right by David Ortiz. Kevin Millar grounded a ball back to the mound but DuBose could only get Ortiz at second to put runners at the corners. DuBose tripped throwing a pitch to Jason Varitek which went to the backstop to not only Ramirez but move Millar to second. Varitek made the O's pay with a base hit to center to score Millar. Mark Bellhorn walked but Pokey Reese forced him at second to put runners at the corners. Damon grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Rafael Palmeiro led off the bottom of the second by grounding out to third but Javy Lopez dumped a base hit to center. Jay Gibbons also got a base hit to center but BJ Surhoff banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Mueller grounded out to short to start. Burks grounded out to short and Ramirez popped up to second to end the inning. Larry Bigbe led off the bottom of the third by striking out swinging on a splitter. Luis Matos grounded a base hit up the middle and moved to second on the grounder to first by Roberts. Mora struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox got another one in the top of the fourth although Ortiz popped up to third in foul territory to start. Millar then pounded his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Varitek walked but Bellhorn struck out swinging. Reese popped up to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Tejeda shot a base hit up the middle to start the bottom of the fourth. Palmeiro forced Tejada at second but Lopez flied out to center. Palmeiro stole second but Gibbons struck out swinging to end the inning.
Damon led off the top of the fifth by grounding out to short before Mueller took strike three on the outside corner. Burks drew a walk but Ramirez forced him at second to end the inning. The O's struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Surhoff struck out swinging to start. Bigbie got a base hit to right and Matos doubled all the way to the centerfield wall to score him to put the O's on the board. Roberts flied out to left and Mora popped up to Damon to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 3-1.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the sixth as Ortiz flied out to the wall to start. Millar hit a routine grounder under the glove of Mora for an error and Varitek walked. Bellhorn walked to load the bases and chase DuBose. John Parrish came in to pitch to Reese and Pokey....hit it to a diving Roberts, who threw home for the force. Damon flied out to right to end the inning. Schilling came back for one final inning in the bottom of the sixth and Tejada grounded out to third to start. Palmeiro walked but Lopez struck out swinging. Gibbons struck out swinging to end the inning. Schilling had gone 6 innings in his Red Sox debut, allowing just 1 run off 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out seven.
Mueller grounded out to third to begin the top of the seventh before Burks struck out swinging. Ramirez walked and looked to have been picked off but Parrish overthrew Palmeiro by a mile, allowing Manny to take second. Ortiz popped up to Roberts to end the inning. Alan Embree came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and David Segui pinch hit for Surhoff to start. Segui struck out swinging before Bigbie flied out to center. Matos grounded out to third to end the inning after just seven pitches from Embree.
Millar grounded out to second to start the top of the eighth before Varitek grounded out to third. Bellhorn flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning. Gabe Kapler took over in left for Manny with Mike Timlin now on the mound for the bottom of the eighth inning. Roberts grounded out to second but Millar and Damon collided on a fly ball by Mora. Millar held on for the out but had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded onto an ambulance and rushed to the local ICU. Cesar Crespo took over for Millar as Tejada flied out to Damon as well to end the inning.
The Sox got a big insurance run in the top of the ninth as Reese got a seeing eye single into right field to start. Damon walked and that was it for Parrish. Mike DeJean came in to pitch to Mueller and Bill grounded into a double play, but Reese moved to third. Burks hit a routine grounder to Mora who booted the ball, scoring Reese. Burks stole second but Kapler grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Keith Foulke made his Sox debut in the bottom of the ninth with David McCarty now at first base. Palmeiro grounded out to short to start before Lopez flied out to right. Gibbons struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won the game 4-1.
Sox win
Hero Schilling
Hero of the Night is Curt Schilling. He won his Red Sox debut by tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball while allowing 6 hits and a walk. He also struck out seven batters.
The Good:
Mark Bellhorn walked twice in four plate appearances.
Manny Ramirez walked twice in four plate appearances and scored a run.
Jason Varitek was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and an rbi.
Alan Embree pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Mike Timlin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Keith Foulke earned his first save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Gabe Kapler was 0 for 1 at the plate.
The Ugly:
Johnny Damon was 0 for 4 but walked.
Bill Mueller was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Ellis Burks was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and stole a base.
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4.
Kevin Millar was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run and he scored two total runs.
Pokey Reese was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Cesar Crespo played right field in the final two inning.
David McCarty played first in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Welcome to Boston, Curt Schilling. For the last six years, Sox fans have been begging for another ace to go with Pedro Martinez and although Derek Lowe had good seasons in 2002 and 2003, Schilling is the real deal. He dominated the O's even though he threw a lot of pitches. Sox manager Terry Francona doesn't want him to get hurt early so pulling him out and letting the bullpen finish was the right move to make. Keith Foulke notched his first save with the Red Sox and this is what Sox fans have been hoping for. The offense didn't do much for the second straight day but they'll figure it out eventually. Funny how they mentioned during the broadcast how Burks and Schilling faced each other in 1988 in Schilling's debut with the Orioles and here they are on the same team sixteen years later. Speaking of Lowe, he makes his season debut tomorrow night against Kurt Ainsworth of Baltimore. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.
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