Sox Drop Third Straight on the Road (4/7/00)

Another game on the road, another loss as the reeling Red Sox dropped their third straight game. Today the Anaheim Angels were the spoilers at Edison Field.

Jason Dickson (1-0) took the mound and induced leadoff hitter Jose Offerman into a ground out. Trot Nixon drew a walk but Carl Everett hit into a double play to end the top half. The Angels pounced all over starter Pete Schourek (0-1). Darin Erstad led off with a ground out but Adam Kennedy doubled. Old Sox hero Mo Vaughn struck out before Kennedy swiped third base. Salmon walked and Garret Anderson swatted a home run to put the Sox in a quick 3-0 hole. Troy Glaus walked but Edgard Clemente hit into a force out to end the inning.

Nomar Garciaparra led off the top of the second by popping up to second. Troy O'Leary smashed a double to left center but Mike Stanley struck out. Brian Daubach grounded out to end the inning. Schourek settled down to retire  Bengie Molina by ground out, Gary Disarcina by fly out and Erstad with another ground out to end the 2nd.

Scott Hatteberg, Jeff Frye and Jose Offerman all flied out as Dickson was rolling through the first 3 innings. Schourek punched out Kennedy to begin the home half of the third as Vaughn drew a walk. Salmon popped up and somehow Vaughn stole second. Schourek got revenge on Anderson by striking him out to end the third.

Nixon led off the 4th with a double to right center as Everett's grounder moved Trot to third. Unfortunately Nixon stayed there as Nomar popped up and O'Leary lined out to end the threat. Schourek stole a page from Dickson's book as he retired Glaus, Clemente and Molina all by flyout as he appeared to have settled down after his disasterous 1st inning.

Dickson continued to roll in the 5th inning. Stanley struck out, Daubach flied out and Hatteberg grounded out to end the frame. Schourek ran into trouble when Disarcina singled and Erstad bunted his way on. Kennedy sacrifice bunted the runners over but the Sox caught a break when Schourek caught Vaughn looking. Salmon was intentionally walked to load the bases but Schourek calmly retired Anderson on a fly ball to keep it a 3-0 game.

Once again the Sox could do nothing against Dickson in the 6th. Frye grounded out, Offerman flied out and Nixon grounded out weakly to 1st. The Angels put the game on ice in the bottom of the inning. For some reason Schourek was pulled after 78 pitches and only one mistake to Garrett Anderson in favor of Rich Garces. The move came back to haunt manager Jimy Williams as Glaus led off with a single. Scott Spiezio pinch hit for Clemente and flied out but Molina singled. Disarcina's double scored Glaus and Molina and Erstad singled Disarcina to third. Erstad stole second as Kennedy was intentionally walked. Vaughn contributed an rbi when he grounded into a force. Salmon struck out but the game appeared to be over at 6-0.

The Sox finally got on the board in the top of the 7th. Carl Everett led off with his first homer of the year but Nomar flied out. O'Leary popped up but Stanley doubled. Former Sox pitcher Kent Mercker replaced Dickson and immediately Brian Daubach swatted his 3rd homer of the year to cut the lead in half 6-3. Hatteberg flied out to end the threat but the Sox showed some life. Tim Wakefield replaced Garces in the home half and got Anderson to fly out. Glaus stepped to the plate and belted a home run that increased the lead 7-3. Wakefield got Spiezio and Molina to fly out but the damage was done.

Frye led off the top of the 8th with a fly out to right as Offerman struck out. Nixon singled but Everett whiffed to end the top half. Wakefield came back for the bottom of the 8th and got 3 ground outs from Disarcina, Erstad and Kennedy respectively.

The Sox went quietly in the 9th as Nomar and O'Leary both grounded out and Stanley whiffed to end the game. Schourek's one bad pitch to Anderson and the quick hook doomed the Sox in this one. Tomorrow Brian Rose takes the hill against Ken Hill to try and end the skid.


Jackass of the Night is Rich Garces. The Sox rally in the 7th inning would have tied the game if it wasn't for Garces throwing up on himself in the bottom of the 6th inning.


The Good:

Trot Nixon was 2 for 3 with a walk. Brian Daubach was 1 for 3 including a 2 run home run.


The Bad:

Jose Offerman was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 4. Scott Hatteberg and Jeff Frye were both 0 for 3. Pete Schourek took the loss after lasting only 5 innings and giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks.


The Ugly: 

Carl Everett was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run. Troy O'Leary was 1 for 4. Mike Stanley was 1 for 4 but earned a hat trick of 3 strikeouts. Tim Wakefield gave up a run in two innings of work.

Bullpen, Defense Costs Sox (4/6/00)

Yesterday the starting pitching cost the Sox while today it was the bullpen and a badly timed error. Jeff Fassero was game but in the end the Seattle Mariners pounced on shoddy relief pitching to take the opening series in Safeco Field.

Aaron Sele took the mound in the top of the first and struck out Jose Offerman in short order. Trot Nixon popped up but Carl Everett worked a walk. Nomar Garciaparra singled but Troy O'Leary lined out to end the threat. Jeff Fassero took the hill and walked leadoff hitter Mark McLemore. McLemore was gunned down trying to steal as Stan Javier grounded out. Alex Rodriguez walked but John Olerud grounded out to first to end the inning.

Mike Stanley walked to lead off the second but Brian Daubach flied out and Jason Varitek hit into a double play. Jay Buhner led off the bottom of the second with a single but Mike Cameron hit into a double play. David Bell grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the third. Manny Alexander grounded out as Offerman struck out again. Trot Nixon came to the plate and belted his first home run of the year. Everett singled but Nomar struck out to end the rally. Fassero got into a jam in the bottom of the 3rd. Dan Wilson flied out to begin the bottom half of the third and Carlos Guillen grounded out. McLemore walked and stole second but Javier and Rodriguez walked to load the basis. Fassero got out of trouble when Olerud flied out.

O'Leary grounded out to lead off the 4th and Stanley flied out. Daubach singled but Varitek flied out. Fassero began the bottom of the 4th by getting Olerud to ground out. Cameron flied out but Bell singled. Wilson grounded out to end the inning.

Sele made quick work of the Sox in the top of the 5th. Alexander flied out but Offerman walked only to be erased when Nixon banged into a double play. The Mariners struck in the bottom of the 5th. Guillen struck out and McLemore struck out. Javier walked and scored when Rodriguez doubled him home. Olerud grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox regained the lead in the top of 6th. Everett singled and was moved all the way to 3rd on groundouts from Garciaparra and O'Leary. Stanley walked and Daubach scored Everett by poking a single to right field. Varitek flied out but the Sox led 2-1. The parade of walks spelled doom for Fassero as he was lifted for Bryce Florie after 98 pitches for the bottom of the 6th. He struck out Buhner, grounded out Cameron and got Bell to pop up to end the inning.

Jose Mesa replaced Sele for the top of the 7th. He got Alexander to strike out and Offerman to fly out. Nixon struck out to end the frame. The Mariners took control in the bottom of the 7th. Wilson walked but Florie struck out Guillen. McLemore walked and Javier singled. The play of the game came when Jose Offerman booted a tailor made double play that allowed Wilson to score. Quick triggered Jimy Williams pulled Florie for lefty Rheal Cormier. Olerud grounded out to 1st that scored McLemore and gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead. Buhner popped up to end the threat.

The Sox had a big chance in the 8th. Charles Gipson replaced Mesa but gave up back to back singles to Everett and Nomar. O'Leary failed to bunt and instead flied out to left. Mike Stanley flied out before Williams lifted Daubach in favor of Gary Gaetti....who struck out like yesterday. The Mariners put the game away in the bottom of the frame as Cameron and Bell bashed back to back home runs off Cormier. Wilson grounded out and Guillen flied out. McLemore singled but was thrown out trying to steal for the second time in the game.

The Sox had their last chance in the 9th down 5-2 against Kaz Sasaki. Nobody could make contact as Varitek, pinch hitter Scott Hatteberg and Offerman struck out (3rd time today) to end the game. A tough loss but the Sox go back to work tomorrow against Anaheim. Pete Schourek makes his season debut against Jason Dickson.

Jackass of the Night is Jose Offerman. He was 0 for 4 and his error led to the Mariners taking the lead.

The Good:

Carl Everett was 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4. Brian Daubach was 2 for 3 with an rbi.

The Bad:

Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4. Gary Gaetti pinch hit for Daubach and struck out. Jason Varitek was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Manny Alexander was 0 for 3. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Alexander and struck out. Rheal Cormier gave up back to back home runs to ice the game in the 8th inning.

The Ugly:

Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a solo home run. Mike Stanley was 0 for 2 but with 2 walks. Jeff Fassero lasted only 5 innings due to 6 walks and 3 hits but only allowed 1 run. Bryce Florie took the loss in 1 1/3 inning but Offerman's error was the primary cause.

Ramon Pounded As M's Even Series (4/5/00)

Today was the complete opposite of yesterday which is typical for Major League Baseball. Yesterday the Seattle Mariners were shut out by the mighty Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox but tonight was different. The Mariners knocked out older brother Ramon Martinez (0-1, 47.25 ERA) in the second inning by scoring seven runs off of him. Meanwhile Freddy Garcia held the Sox to just two runs in five innings. The Mariners got two runs off John Wasdin and Tim Wakefield as the Mariners cruised to a 9-3 win at Safeco Field.

                                                             "Nice going Ramon" - GL

Garcia took the mound and was greeted by a quick Jose Offerman double to left. John Valentin bunted him over to third but the threat ended when Carl Everett popped up to short and Nomar Garciaparra lined out to third to end the inning. Seattle wasted no time getting to Martinez in the bottom of the first as Mike Cameron atoned for his performance yesterday by leading off with a single to left. Mark McLemore walked and Ramon plunked Alex Rodriguez to load the bases. John Olerud hit a sac fly to center that scored Cameron. John Mabry followed with a single to left that scored McLemore and Jay Buhner cleared the bases with a 3 run home run all the way to Portland, Oregon. David Bell struck out swinging and Dan Wilson grounded out to third to end the inning with the Mariners up 5-0.

                                                                That was quick

The Sox answered in the top of the second as Troy O'Leary led off by flying out and Mike Stanley grounded out. In stepped Brian Daubach for his first at bat of the year and he responded by blasting a home run to cut the deficit 5-1. Jason Varitek singled but Trot Nixon struck out. The bottom of the second was almost as bad. Martinez went wild by walking Guillen, McLemore and Rodriguez (with Cameron popping out in between) as Red Sox manager Jimy Williams had seen enough. Williams yanked the ineffective Martinez in favor of John Wasdin. Way Back picked up where Martinez left off by walking Olerud that scored Guillen. Wasdin struck out Mabry but Buhner also walked to score McLemore. Bell grounded out to third but the Mariners now led 7-1 and the game was only 2 innings in.

Offerman led off the third with a walk but Valentin flied out. Everett singled but Nomar hit a ball to Rodriguez who flipped to Bell to catch the intruding Offerman off guard, forcing a double play. Wasdin came out for the third and got Wilson to fly out to center and getting Guillen to swing at air. Cameron tripled but was erased on the fly out by McLemore.

Garcia returned for the 4th and got O'Leary to pop out then Stanley to fly out. Daubach came to the plate and belted another home run to pull the Sox closer at 7-2. Varitek singled but Nixon flied out to end the threat. Seattle got that run right back as Alex Rodriguez homered off Wasdin to begin the home half of the 4th. Wasdin recovered to strike out Olerud and Mabry but gave up a single to Buhner. Bell flied out to end the threat but Wasdin was pretty much pouring gas on the fire.

Like his last at bat, Offerman led off the 5th with a walk. Valentin grounded into a force which moved Offerman to second but Everett whiffed. Garciaparra flied out and the Sox were pretty much finished. Tim Wakefield replaced Wasdin for the bottom of the 5th (Wasdin walked in 2 runners and gave up the homer to Rodriguez, some relief) and promptly walked Wilson. He recovered to strike out Guillen and Cameron but McLemore singled and took second when Wakefield just simply didn't care. Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning.

Former Red Sox prospect Frankie Rodriguez replaced Freddy Garcia after 93 pitches and 2 runs allowed. O'Leary popped up but Stanley singled and took second on a wild pitch. Daubach walked but Varitek popped up and Nixon flied out to end the threat. Olerud greeted Wakefield with a solo blast to lead off the bottom of the 6th. Wakefield recovered to strike out Mabry and get Buhner to ground out. Nomar booted a ball that allowed Bell to reach but Wilson flied out to end it. The score was 9-2 Seattle at this point.

Offerman was finally retired via fly out to lead off the 7th but Valentin pounded a home run just to tick off the Mariner fans. Everett grounded out and Nomar struck out to end the top half. Wakefield returned for the bottom of the 7th to retire Guillen on a ground out. Cameron struck out but McLemore singled. Rodriguez popped up as we headed to the 8th.

Arthur Rhodes replaced  Rodriguez for the top of the 8th and struck out O'Leary and Stanley. Out to pinch hit came 41 year old Gary Gaetti but he struck out to end the inning. Manny Alexander replaced Valentin for the bottom of the frame and Olerud led off with a ground out. Mabry walked but Buhner hit into a double play to end the inning.

Kazuhiro Sasaki replaced Rhodes for the 9th as Charles Gipson took over for Buhner in right. Varitek popped up but Nixon singled. Offerman grounded out that moved Nixon to second and Alexander struck out to end the game. It was a nightmare but thankfully it was over. Jeff Fassero takes on former Sox pitcher Aaron Sele in the rubber game tomorrow night.

Jackass of the Night is easy, Ramon Martinez gave up 7 runs in 1 1/3 innings, terrible.

                                                           He's not Pedro, he's Jackass

The Good:

Jose Offerman was 1 for 3 with 2 walks. John Valentin was 1 for 3 with a home run. Brian Daubach hit 2 solo homers and walked. Jason Varitek was 2 for 4. Tim Wakefield had mop up duty but did the best he could, only surrendering 1 run in 4 innings.

The Bad:

Manny Alexander pinch hit for Valentin and struck out. Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and an error. Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Gary Gaetti pinch hit for Daubach and struck out.

The Ugly:

Carl Everett, Mike Stanley and Trot Nixon were all just 1 for 4. John Wasdin pitched 2 2/3 innings of long relief and gave up an earned run.


Final Thoughts:

That sucked. Ramon needs to do better for sure. Hopefully the Sox can win tomorrow.

Sox Win Opening Day (4/4/00)

After the disappointing end to the 1999 season for the Boston Red Sox, the 2000 season started off very nicely. Current Cy Young champ Pedro Martinez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) was outstanding today against the Seattle Mariners. Pedro fired 7 innings of shut out ball with 11 strikeouts and allowed 2 measly hits. Mariners counterpart Jamie Moyer (0-1 2.84 ERA) was game but received no offensive help. Troy O'Leary and Jose Offerman supplied the offense  as the Sox took Opening Day 2-0 at Safeco Field.

                                                      Patricia Arquette approves of the win

 The Sox came to bat in the top of the first and Jose Offerman led the game off with a groundout back to Moyer. John Valentin smacked a double down the left field line and Carl Everett made his Red Sox debut by drawing a walk. All-Star Nomar Garciaparra failed to advance runners with a fly out to left and Mike Stanley hit into a force to end the inning. Pedro got the ball in the bottom of the first and picked up where he left off last year by striking out Mike Cameron swinging. Mark McLemore swung and missed at strike three in the dirt but Alex Rodriguez walked. John Olerud flied out to the left field warning track to end the inning.

Moyer cruised through the top of the second. Troy O'Leary grounded out to first and Gary Gaetti made his Red Sox debut by grounding out to third. Jason Varitek looked at a fastball at the knees for strike three to end the inning. Pedro cruised in the bottom of the second as Edgar Martinez popped up to right to start. John Mabry and David Bell both went down hacking to end the inning.

The Sox went quietly in the top of the third as Darren Lewis hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Offerman struck out swinging and Valentin grounded out to short to end the inning. Pedro struck out Dan Wilson  swinging to open the bottom of the third but Carlos Guillen blooped a single to center. Pedro struck out Cameron swinging again and got McLemore to fly out to left to end the frame.

Everett took a fastball on the outside corner for strike three to open the top of the fourth. Nomar followed by pulling a ball on the outside corner into a grounder to short. Stanley doubled to left center but O'Leary weakly swung at strike three on the outside corner to end the inning. Pedro blew away A-Rod to begin the bottom of the fourth but Olerud sliced a single past Nomar. A passed ball moved Olerud to second but Pedro froze Martinez with a change up down the middle for strike three. Mabry was rung up for strike three to end the inning.

                                                            Pedro mows them down

Gaetti nearly put the Sox on top in the top of the fifth but Mabry robbed him at the right field wall. Varitek grounded back to the mound and Lewis grounded out to third to end the inning.

                                                           Mabry robs Gaetti

Pedro cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Bell grounded out to short to start. Wilson whiffed and Guillen took strike three to end the inning.

The Sox finally broke through in the top of the sixth although Offerman flied out to center to start. Valentin and Everett hit back to back singles but Nomar popped up to right Stanley walked to load the bases and O'Leary got the first rbi of the season with an infield single to second that scored Valentin. Gary Gaietti had hit grand slams in the past but not this time as he flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                         O'Leary puts the Sox ahead

Pedro got Cameron to fly out to center  begin the bottom of the sixth then induced a groundout back to the mound from McLemore. Rodriguez walked and moved to second on a passed ball but Stanley snared a line drive off the bat of Olerud to end it. Olerud would be the only Mariner not to strike out against Pedro.

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the seventh as Varitek walked to start. Lewis sac bunted him over to second and Offerman got his first rbi of the year with a double down the left field line that chased Moyer from the game. Seattle manager Lou Pinella brought Paul Abbot to pitch to Valentin who popped up to right in foul territory. Everett grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                     Varitek scores the insurance run

Pedro came out for the bottom of the seventh and got Martinez to fly out on the first pitch to center. Mabry grounded out to first and on the 108th pitch of the day from Pedro, Bell flied out to right to end the inning. Pedro was outstanding, allowing 2 hits and no runs in 7 innings of work.

                                                               Way to go Pedro

The Sox did nothing in the top of the eighth as Nomar whiffed to start. Stanley popped up to center and O'Leary popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning. Derek Lowe took the mound in the bottom of the eighth as the new closer (replacing the injured Tom Gordon) and immediately got Wilson to ground out to short to start. Guillen grounded out to second and Cameron took strike three to end the inning.

Gaetti flied out to left to start the top of the ninth before Varitek grounded out to second. Lewis got his first hit of the year with a bloop single to center but Mabry made a great diving catch to rob Offerman of a hit to end the inning.. Lowe came back for the bottom of the ninth and got McLemore to ground out to first to start. Rodriguez flied out to left and Olerud grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had taken Opening Day 2-0.

                                                         Sox win

Hero of the Night is Pedro Martinez.  He struck out 11 allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks in 7 innings of work.

                                                            Pedro Hero

The Good:

John Valentin was 2 for 4 with a run scored. 

Carl Everett was 1 for 3 with a walk. 

Mike Stanley was 1 for 3 with a walk. 

Darren Lewis was 1 for 3. 

Derek Lowe finished off his first save with 2 perfect innings.

The Bad:

Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. 

Gary Gaetti was 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Jose Offerman was 1 for 5 with an rbi.

Troy O'Leary was 1 for 4 with an rbi.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run

Final Thoughts:

The Sox offense didn't do much but with Pedro Martinez on the mound, it usually doesn't matter. Winning on Opening Day to start the season on the right foot is never a bad thing. Pedro was almost unhittable against a very potent Seattle lineup even without Ken Griffey Jr. The Sox offense will be there this season and Moyer is pretty tough, its a shame the Sox traded him 4 years ago. Lowe looked impressive in his 2 innings of work and the Sox are gonna need him with Tom Gordon on the sideline this year. All in all it was a good win and hopefully the Sox can ride this momentum the rest of the series. Pedro's older brother Ramon Martinez makes his season debut tomorrow night against Freddy Garcia of the Mariners. The game begins at 10:05 PM Eastern time at Safeco Field.