David Buchanan got the start for Philadelphia and Mookie Betts hit one to the wall in left but it died, just like Hanley Ramirez last night, it was gone at Fenway or in the summer. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to short but David Ortiz walked. Ramirez singled but Pablo Sandoval grounded out to second to end the inning. They would get another chance. Justin Masterson (1-0) got the start for Boston and in his first batter faced as a member of the Red Sox since July 2009, he got Ben Revere to ground out to begin the bottom of the first. Carlos Ruiz whiffed and Chase Utley grounded out to third to end the inning.
Shane Victorino got the start in right and he ripped a single to lead off the top of the second but was erased on the Ryan Hanigan double play. Xander Bogaerts walked but pitchers have to hit and Masterson struck out to end the threat. Masterson got Ryan Howard to ground out to third to begin the bottom of the second. Darin Ruf and Cody Asche both struck out to end the frame.
The Sox broke through in the third inning. Mr. Mookie was called out on a diving catch in left but replays showed it was a trap, unfortunately Sox manager John Farrell was in the can or something because nobody asked to review it. Pedroia grounded out but Ortiz got things started with a single into the shift. Ramirez then lined one off Buchanan who threw the ball away, allowing Ortiz to reach third. Sandoval walked to load the bases and Victorino beat out an infield single to put the Sox up 1-0. Hanigan walked to make it 2-0 and Bogaerts cleared the bases with a poke job triple to right that just fell inside the foul line. Once again pitchers have to hit and Masterson...SINGLED TO DRIVE IN BOGAERTS???
Yes Joey, Masterson singled in a run!
Masterson stood at first flexing for his teammates as the Sox now led 6-0. Mr, Mookie grounded to end the inning but the Sox had a commanding lead and had chased Buchanan.
Masterson then promptly coughed the lead up in the bottom of the third. Last night's hero Jeff Francoeur struck out but Fred Galvis reached on an infield single. Pinch hitter Odubel Herrera walked and Ben Revere moved Galvis to third with a force at second. A wild pitch by Masterson scored Galvis and Ruiz walked. Utley singled home Herrera to cut the lead. Howard struck out to end the inning but the score was now 6-2 Sox.
Dustin McGowan replaced Buchanan and struck out Pedroia to begin the top of the fourth. Ortiz walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ramirez popped up to second and Sandoval hit a ball to the left field wall that was caught to end the inning. If this was the summer, Sandoval and Ramirez would be leading the league in RBI's right now. Masterson ran into trouble in the bottom of the 4th. Ruf grounded out to short but Asche singled. Francoeur lined out to left but Galvis lined out to Pedroia on a broken bat to end the inning. Masterson got out of the jam but was up to 71 pitches.
Victorino hit one up the elevator shaft to begin the top of the 5th and Hanigan flied out to center. Bogaerts reached first on a throwing error by Galvis. Masterson then reached on an error by Howard although to be fair, Masterson did hit a good ball into the hole at third. Betts worked the count full but also hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Cesar Hernandez pinch hit for McGowan and struck out to begin the bottom of the 5th. Sandoval flashed the leather by snaring a line drive off the bat of Revere. Ruiz grounded out to end the inning.
Justin De Fratus took over for McGowan to begin the top of the 6th and promptly struck out Pedroia. Ortiz followed suit with a whiff and Ramirez flied out to end the frame. Masterson returned for the 6th and struck out Utley, 7th K tonight for Justin. Howard flied out and Asche grounded back to the pitcher to end the inning. 6 innings, 2 runs, 7 K's for Masterson....not bad at all.
Sandoval led off the 7th with a strikeout and Victorino was robbed of a hit by a nice play at third. Hanigan walked and Bogaerts singled. Allen Craig pinch hit for Masterson and struck out...I could have done that. Mike Napoli took over at first for Ortiz and Craig Breslow replaced Masterson for the bottom of the 7th. Asche worked a leadoff walk but Francoeur struck out. Galvis singled but pinch hitter Andres Blanco popped up. Revere flied out to end the inning.
Luis Garcia replaced De Fratus to begin the top of the 8th inning. Mr. Mookie singled and advanced to second on the ground out by Pedroia. Galvis booted a grounder to short by Napoli and Betts advanced to third. Then things reverted to last year when Ramirez struck out and Sandoval grounded out to end the inning. Another opportunity wasted. Tommy Layne replaced Breslow and struck out Ruiz to begin the bottom of the 8th. Utley grounded out to second and Howard flied out to center to end the inning.
Jake Diekman replaced Garcia for the top of the 9th. Victorino grounded out to short to start before Hanigan popped up to center. Bogaerts singled and Brock Holt pinch hit for Layne, but grounded out to end the inning. Edward Mujica came on for the bottom of the 9th. He struck out Ruf but Asche singled. Asche was erased on the force by Francoer. Galvis grounded out to second to end the game. The Red Sox won the game 6-2
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He went 3 for 4 with a walk and a bases clearing triple.
The Good:
David Ortiz was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored before being lifted for Mike Napoli.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Shane Victorino was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
Justin Masterson tossed 6 innings of 2 run ball, striking out 7 and he drove in a run at the plate.
Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Tommy Layne pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Edward Mujica pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.
Allen Craig struck out in his pinch hit appearance.
Brock Holt grounded out in his pinch hit appearance.
Mike Napoli grounded into a force in his only plate appearance
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5.
Pablo Sandoval was 0 for 4 but walked, scored a run and made good plays at third.
Ryan Hanigan was 0 for 3 but walked twice, one for an rbi and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The Phillies are terrible but a win is a win. Taking 2 of 3 on the road, under National League rules is nothing to sneeze at. Opening the season 2-1 is better than 1-2 or 0-3. Masterson looked pretty good and driving in a run at the plate fired the team up. If the Sox have shaken off the hangover of last season, this season could be a lot of fun provided the pitching holds up. Rick Porcello needs to look like the pitcher he was in 2009 and Clay Buchholz needs to stay healthy.The Sox now travel to the Bronx to play the hapless New York Yankees, steel reeling from the retirement of Derek Jeter. Wade Miley gets the ball tomorrow night for the Sox opposite Nathan Eovaldi.
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