Martinez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Ray Durham singled to center to start. Mike Caruso struck out swinging and Durham was thrown out at second trying to steal. Frank Thomas took strike three to end the inning. The Sox exploded against Baldwin in the bottom of the first as Jose Offerman doubled to left to start. Lou Merloni got a base hit to center and Brian Daubach smashed his ninth home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Nomar Garciaparra struck out swinging but Troy O'Leary got a base hit to center. Mike Stanley doubled to the Monster and Jason Varitek doubled off the top of the Monster to score both runners. Darren Lewis grounded back to the mound to move Jason to third and Trot Nixon walked to chase Baldwin. Scott Eyre came in pitch and Offerman walked to load the bases. Merloni missed a grand slam by eight feet off the top of the Monster but all three runs scored on the double. A passed ball moved Merloni to third and Daubach drilled a base hit to right to score Lou. Nomar capped it off with a 2 run bomb to dead center and O'Leary lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-0.
The White Sox got a run back in the top of the second as Magglio Ordonez grounded out to third to start. Carlos Lee grounded out to short but Chris Singleton hit a home run to the moon to cut the lead. Greg Norton flied out to right to end the inning with Chicago down 11-1.
Liu Rodriguez came in for Durham to start the bottom of the second and Stanley flied out to right to start. Varitek struck out swinging and Lewis lined out to left to end the inning.
Paul Konerko grounded out to short to start the top of the third but Brook Fordyce walked. Rodriguez flied out to left and Caruso grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the third as Nixon walked to start. Offerman took strike three but Merloni was hit with a pitch. Daubach grounded out to second to move the runners over but Garciaparra hit a 3 run blast over everything in left to increase the lead. O'Leary flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 14-1.
All Sox today
Thomas struck out swinging to start the top of the fourth but Ordonez singled to center. Lee popped up to Offerman and Singleton popped up to short to end the inning. Jeff Liefer came in for Ordonez to start the bottom of the fourth and Stanley led off with his 8th home run of the year over the bullpen to increase the lead. Varitek then went back to back with his home run of the year into the screen. Lewis grounded out to first but Nixon singled to right. Norton threw the ball away allowing Offerman to reach first but Merloni struck out swinging. Reggie Jefferson pinch hit for Daubach and took strike three to end the inning with the Red Sox up 16-1.
Martinez returned for one final inning in the top of the fifth and Norton struck out swinging to start. Konerko grounded out to third and Fordyce did the same to end the inning. Short and sweet for Pedro who allowed just 1 run in 5 innings off 3 hits and a walk.
Craig Wilson took over for Thomas with Sean Lowe now on the mound for the bottom of the fifth. Nomar grounded out to short, O'Leary grounded out to first and Stanley popped up to first to end the inning.
John Wasdin came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Rodriguez grounded out to second to start. Caruso popped up to short and Wilson grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Varitek doubled off the glove of Wilson into right field to start. Lewis flied out to right to move Varitek to third and Nixon flied out to center to score Jason. Offerman walked but Merloni lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 17-1.
Nixon drives in the final run
Liefer struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh and Lee flied out to center. Singleton walked but Norton grounded out to second to end the inning. Jefferson lined out to short to start the bottom of the seventh and Garciaparra flied out to center. O'Leary lined out to center to end the inning.
Konerko popped up to short to start the top of the eighth and Fordyce grounded out to third. Rodriguez grounded out to first to end the inning. Stanley took strike three to start the bottom of the eighth and Varitek popped up to short. Lewis grounded out to short to end the inning.
Wasdin returned to close out the top of the ninth and Caruso grounded out to short to start. Wilson took strike three and Liefer grounded out to first to end the game. The Sox had won it 17-1.
Sox win
Hero Daubach
Hero of The Night is Brian Daubach. His three run home run put the Sox up for good and later added another rbi.
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.
Lou Merloni was 2 for 4 with 3 rbis, a hit by pitch and 3 runs scored.
Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 5 with 5 rbis coming off 2 home runs.
Mike Stanley was 2 for 5 with a home run and 2 runs scored.
Trot Nixon singled, walked twice, drove in a run and scored a run.
Jason Varitek was 3 for 5 with a home run, 3 total rbis and 3 runs scored.
Pedro Martinez got the win allowing 1 run in 5 innings off 3 hits and a walk.
John Wasdin earned his second save by tossing 4 shutout innings.
The Bad:
Reggie Jefferson was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Darren Lewis was 0 for 5.
The Ugly:
Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
That was one of the worst beat downs of the season and even the Red Sox broadcasters felt sorry for the White Sox by the end of the game. Scoring 11 runs in the first inning tied a team record and the game was never in doubt. Martinez getting lifted after five was a good idea and Wasdin saved the bullpen for tomorrow. The more bullets you can save for games that matter, the better. The Sox needed to win to keep pace with the New York Yankees and they did. The Sox have a legit chance to hang with them this year and if they stay healthy, they'll be right in the thick of things moving forward. Not much to complain about in this one and this was their fourth win in a row. The Sox need to keep rolling to take back first place come July. The win improved the Sox to 44-30, 1 game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to win their fifth game in a row tomorrow afternoon against the White Sox when Brian Rose of Boston takes on Jim Parque of Chicago. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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