White Sox Defeat Viola, Red Sox (4/17/94)

That was not the best game pitched by Frank Viola (0-1, 4.96 ERA) in today's Boston Red Sox game against the Chicago White Sox. Frank got rocked for four runs in just 5 1/3 innings while the Sox offense was stoned cold by Scott Sanderson of Chicago. Mike Greenwell did hit a first inning home run off Sanderson but the White Sox knocked Viola out and led 4-1. Bad errors by the Sox defense led to the White Sox getting three unearned runs off Scott Bankhead and Joe Hesketh. The Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth for three runs but it was too little, too late as the White Sox won 7-4 at Fenway Park.

                                                          "Three errors in one inning?"

Viola got the ball in the top of the first and Tim Raines popped up to first to start. Joey Cora flied out to center and Frank Thomas grounded out to short to end the inning. The Red Sox wasted no time getting to Sanderson in the bottom of the first as Otis Nixon grounded out to second to start. Billy Hatcher grounded out to third but Mike Greenwell launched his third home run of the season to put Boston on top. Mo Vaughn grounded out to third to end the inning with the BoSox up 1-0.

                                                              Greenwell hits one out

The White Sox answered in the top of the second as Julio Franco walked to start. Franco took second on a wild pitch then third on a Robin Ventura liner to right. Darrin Jackson grounded out to third but Lance Johnson singled to left to score Franco to tie the game. Ron Karkovice flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                        Johnson ties it up.

Tim Naehring took strike three to start the bottom of the second before Scott Cooper lined out to short. John Valentin singled to left and stole second but Greg Blosser struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ozzie Guillen grounded out to third to start the top of the third before Raines popped up to first. Cora flied out to right to end the inning. Dave Valle flied out to right to start the bottom of the third before Nixon struck out swinging. Hatcher singled to center but was picked off to end the inning.

The White Sox took command in the top of the fourth as Thomas hit a home run all the way to Jupiter to start. Franco grounded out to short and Ventura struck out swinging, but Jackson hit a home run all the way to Los Angeles to increase the lead. Johnson flied out to left to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 3-1.

                                                                 Jackson hits one out

Greenwell grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fourth before Vaughn struck out swinging. Naehring and Cooper stroked back to back base hits but Valentin struck out swinging to end the inning.

Karkovice singled to right to start the top of the fifth before Guillen sacrificed him to second with a bunt. Ron moved to third on the fly out to right by Raines and Cora walked to put runners at the corners. Thomas lined out to right to end the inning. Blosser lined out to short to start the bottom of the fifth but Valle singled to center. Nixon lined out to left and Hatcher grounded out to third to end the inning.

The White Sox finished off Viola in the top of the sixth as Franco singled to center to start. Ventura struck out swinging and Jackson singled to left. Johnson singled to center to score Franco and drive Viola out of the game. Frank allowed 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings off 7 hits and 2 walks. Scott Bankhead came in to pitch and Karkovice took strike three. Guillen flied out to right to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 4-1.

                                                      Viola didn't have it in this one

Greenwell flied out to center to start the bottom of the sixth before Vaughn grounded out to third. Naehring flied out to left to end the inning.

Raines popped up to short to start the top of the seventh before Cora struck out swinging. Thomas singled to left but Franco took strike three to end the inning. Kirk McCaskill came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Cooper grounded out to second to start. Valentin flied out to center but Blosser drew a walk. Valle flied out to center to end the inning.

Things fell apart in the top of the eighth as Ventura grounded out to short to start. Jackson hit a routine grounder to Cooper who picked the ball up and did a dance with it for an error. That was it for Bankhead as Joe Hesketh came in to pitch to Johnson. Johnson hit a routine grounder to Naehring who picked the ball up and did a dance with it to show up Cooper for another error. Karkovice flied out to center and Guillen hit a grounder to third. Cooper fired home to Valle.....WHO DROPPED IT! Jackson and Johnson both scored on the error to ice the game. Raines singled to center to score Guillen and Cora singled to center to chase Hesketh. Paul Quantrill came in to pitch and Thomas flied out to right to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 7-1.

                                                    Cooper, Naehring and Valle

The Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Nixon flied out to center to start. Hatcher singled to left and Greenwell doubled to right to score him. Vaughn then clubbed his second home run of the year to cut the lead, but Naehring flied out to right. Cooper singled to right to chase McCaskill and Roberto Hernandez came in to face Valentin. John popped up to short to end the inning with the Sox down 7-4.

                                                                 Vaughn hits a homer

Franco took strike three to start the top of the ninth and Ventura also watched strike three go by. Jackson flied out to right to end the inning. Blosser struck out swinging to start the bottom of the ninth and Damon Berryhill pinch hit for Valle. Damon struck out swinging and Nixon also went down hacking to end the game. The White Sox had won it 7-4.

Jackass of the Night is Dave Valle. Him dropping the ball at the plate led to two runs scoring and an eventual third run. That was the difference in the game

                                                               Dave Jackass

The Good:

Billy Hatcher was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Mike Greenwell was 2 for 4 with a home run, 2 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.

Paul Quantrill tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Otis Nixon was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Damon Berryhill struck out as a pinch hitter.

Frank Viola got hammered for four runs in just 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Joe Hesketh allowed 2 unearned runs in 1/3 of an inning.

The Ugly:

Mo Vaughn was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 2 run home run.

Tim Naehring was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error.

John Valentin was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Scott Cooper was 2 for 4 but committed a crucial error.

Greg Blosser was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.

Scott Bankhead was charged with an unearned run in 2 innings.

Final Thoughts:

That game was a week's worth of bad baseball in one game. Viola pitched like garbage and the Sox committed three errors in that fateful eighth inning. The entire infield owes Scott Bankhead and Joe Hesketh some beers tonight for that total mess they created. The offense was shut down for virtually the entire game so its not entirely the fault of pitching and defense. It was good to see Vaughn and Greenwell hit some rockets so the game wasn't entirely a waste. Greg Blosser looks lost at the plate but maybe he'll pick it up as the season goes on. After the dreary 1992 and 1993 seasons, the Sox winning 7 of the first 11 games is a cause for hope even if they lost this one. The less said of this disaster, the better. The BoSox look to bounce back against the White Sox tomorrow morning on Patriots Day. Danny Darwin (2-0) goes for Boston against Wilson Alvarez of Chicago. The game begins at 11:00 AM at Fenway Park.

Sox Win Shootout With Royals (4/12/94)

That was one of the craziest games in Boston Red Sox history. If you were told before the game the Kansas City Royals would get 15 hits and score 11 runs, you'd think the Sox lost right? Wrong! The Sox managed to DOUBLE the production of the Royals as they scored TWENTY-TWO runs off 15 hits. The Sox as a team hit 5 home runs in the onslaught as pitching was at a premium. Shockingly, Sox starter Danny Darwin (2-0, 4.91 ERA) pitched relatively well allowing just 4 runs in 6 innings. The bullpen allowed the remaining five runs but the Sox pounded Kevin Appier and the Kansas City bullpen. The big hero was Scott Cooper who hit for the cycle, totalling five hits and five rbi's as the Sox smacked the Royals 22-11 at Kauffman Stadium.

                                                    Talisa Soto approves of the win

The Sox wasted no time getting to Appier in the top of the first as Otis Nixon led off by catching KC asleep with a bunt single to short. Billy Hatcher walked and Mike Greenwell doubled to right to score Nixon. Mo Vaughn tripled into the right field corner to clear the bases and scored on the Andre Dawson base hit to left. Dawson stole second, Tim Naehring drew a walk and Scott Cooper doubled to right to score both runners. That's 6 runs without even making an out but the streak ended as John Valentin lined out to third. Dave Valle took strike three and Nixon grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-0.

                                                                Vaughn hits a triple

Darwin got the ball in the bottom of the first and Vince Coleman dropped down a bunt but was snuffed out by Vaughn. Brian McRae grounded out to second and Wally Joyner flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the second as Hatcher crushed his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Greenwell popped up to short, Vaughn struck out swinging and Dawson grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 7-0.

                                                             Hatcher hits his first

The Royals struck back in the bottom of the second as Mike Macfarlane grounded out to third to start. Dave Henderson, Bob Hamelin and Jose Lind hit three straight singles to score Henderson. David Howard moved both runners over with a grounder to second and Terry Shumpert struck out swinging to end the inning with the Royals down 7-1.

                                                             Lind drives in a run

The Sox played home run derby in the top of the third although Naehring flied out to left to start. Cooper belted his first home run of the season to increase the lead but Valentin flied out to left. Valle mashed his first home run of the season and Nixon struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-1.

                                                               Home run Valle

The Royals answered in the bottom of the third as Coleman flied out to center to start. McRae grounded out to second but Joyner doubled to right. Macfarlane walked and Henderson hit a three run home run all the way to St. Louis to cut the lead. Hamelin flied out to left to end the inning with the Royals down 9-4.

                                                       Another home run for Henderson

Hipolito Pichardo came in to pitch the top of the fourth and Hatcher struck out swinging to start. Greenwell and Vaughn both grounded out to second to end the inning. Lind took strike three to start the bottom of the fourth and Howard also watched strike three go by. Shumpert singled to right but Coleman grounded out to short to end the inning.

Dawson struck out swinging to open the top of the fifth before Naehring grounded out to second and Cooper tried for an inside the park home run after belting a ball into the left field corner but was thrown out at home to end the inning. McRae popped up to first to start the bottom of the fifth before Joyner grounded out to first. Macfarlane popped up to center to end the inning.

The Sox exploded in the top of the sixth with Stan Belinda on the mound. Valentin walked and took second on the Valle grounder to short. Nixon walked and Hatcher doubled to right to score Valentin. Greenwell hit a sac fly to center to score Nixon and move Hatcher to third. Vaughn walked and Dawson was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Naehring hit a routine grounder to second but Lind booted it for an error to score Hatcher. Cooper then hit a routine grounder to Howard who booted that one for another error to score Vaughn and Dawson. Valentin hit the exclamation point with a 3 run blast to increase the lead. Valle walked but Nixon lined out to left to end the inning. The Sox scored eight runs and led 17-4.

                                                                   Home run Valentin

With the game well in hand Greg Blosser took over for Greenwell and Lee Tinsley replaced Nixon for the bottom of the sixth. Henderson grounded back to the mound to start. Hamelin singled to right before moving to second on the Lind grounder to first. Howard walked but Shumpert flied out to right to end the inning. That was it for Darwin who tossed 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.

                                                                Not great but it'll do

Brent Mayne came in to catch, Tom Goodwin came in for Henderson and Jeff Montgomery came in to pitch the top of the seventh. Hatcher popped up to third but Blosser walked. Vaughn then belted his first home run of the year to add to the Royals misery. Scott Fletcher pinch hit for Dawson and was hit with a pitch. Fletcher took second on defensive indifference and Naehring walked. Cooper cleared the bases with a double to right but Valentin flied out to right. Rich Rowland pinch hit for Valle and flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 21-4.

                                                           Home run Vaughn

Ricky Trlicek came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Coleman beat out a roller to first. Kevin Koslofski pinch hit for McRae and hit a line drive off Trlicek for a base hit. Joyner ripped a base hit to center to score Coleman before both runners moved over on the Mayne grounder to first. Goodwin popped up to short but Hamelin hit a home run all the way to El Paso to cut the lead. Lind grounded out to third to end the inning with the Royals down 21-8.

                                                     Hamelin jacks one

Gary Gaetti came in for Hamelin to start the top of the eighth and Tinsley walked to start. Hatcher hit a routine fly ball to Koslofski who dropped it for an error. Hatcher was thrown out at second on the play but Blosser walked. Vaughn walked to load the bases and Fletcher singled to right to score Tinsley to wrap up the scoring. Naehring banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 22-8.

                                                           Rbi for Fletcher

Howard popped up to third in foul territory to start the bottom of the eighth and Shumpert grounded out to third. Coleman singled to center and took second on defensive indifference. Koslofski grounded out to second to end the inning.

Cooper singled to center to complete the cycle to start the top of the ninth and Valentin walked. Rowland flied out to left and Tinsley beat out a double play ball. Hatcher walked to load the bases but Blosser flied out to center to end the inning. Joyner singled to right to start the bottom of the ninth and Mayne walked. Goodwin struck out swinging but a balk moved the runners over. All of a sudden Sox manager Butch Hobson fell down coming out of the dugout and brought in Tony Fossas to pitch who hadn't even been warming up. Gaetti laughed as he doubled to left to clear the bases but Lind flied out to right. Howard doubled to right to score Gaetti but Shumpert grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox won the slugfest 22-11.

Hero of the Night is Scott Cooper. He was 5 for 6 and hit for the cycle. He also had 5 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.

                                                           Cycle Hero Cooper

The Good:

Lee Tinsley walked and scored a run in two plate appearances.

Billy Hatcher was 2 for 5 with 2 walks, 2 rbis, a home run and 3 runs scored.

Mike Greenwell was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Greg Blosser walked twice and scored a run.

Mo Vaughn was 2 for 4 with a home run, 2 walks, 4 total rbis and 3 total runs scored.

Andre Dawson was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch, stolen base, rbi and two runs scored.

Scott Fletcher was 1 for 1 with a hit by pitch, rbi and a run scored.

Dave Valle was 1 for 3 with a home run and a walk.

The Bad:

Rich Rowland was 0 for 2.

Ricky Trlicek allowed 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Tony Fossas allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning.

The Ugly:

Otis Nixon was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored two runs.

Tim Naehring was 0 for 4 but walked twice and scored 3 runs.

John Valentin was just 1 for 4 but walked twice, drove in 3 runs and scored two runs.

Danny Darwin got the win but allowed 4 runs in just 6 innings allowing 7 hits and 2 walks.

Final Thoughts:

Chalk that one up as one of the most insane games in Red Sox history. The Sox allowed 11 runs on 15 hits and managed to double up the Royals run production. Cooper hit for the cycle, the Sox played home run derby and the entire team except for Rowland scored at least one run. Darwin didn't pitch that great but still kept the Sox in the game, but Trlicek was AWFUL. Still, its only one game so he'll bounce back next time. Moving forward the Sox are going to need more out of Darwin but it'll do today. The Sox are more than likely going to have trouble scoring runs tomorrow but today was clearly not so hard. The Sox go for the series sweep tomorrow in Kansas City when Aaron Sele gets the start for Boston. Tom Gordon goes for Kansas City and the game begins at 8:05 PM Eastern time at Kauffman Stadium.

Fernandez, White Sox Blank Red Sox (4/10/94)

Well this game was a complete waste of time. The Boston Red Sox dropped a turd in today's game against the Chicago White Sox. Alex Fernandez of Chicago tossed a complete game 6 hit shutout against the Red Sox while Joe Hesketh (0-1, 9.53 ERA) gave up as many runs as the BoSox had hits. Paul Quantrill and Ricky Trilicek also gave up runs as the White Sox got a total effort from their offense in this one. The BoSox looked bad on both sides of the ball as the White Sox had won the game 8-0 at Commiskey Park. How many runs did the Red Sox score Dean Wormer?

Fernandez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Otis Nixon lined out to short to start. Scott Fletcher struck out swinging and Mike Greenwell grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The White Sox wasted no time getting to Hesketh in the bottom of the first as Lance Johnson singled to center to start. Johnson swiped second but Craig Grebeck took strike three. Johnson took third on the fly ball to right and scored on the Julio Franco double to right. Robin Ventura flied out to center to end the inning with the White Sox up for good already 1-0.

                                                              Franco puts Chicago up

The BoSox tried to rally in the top of the second as Mo Vaughn singled to center to begin. Andre Dawson singled to center and Vaughn moved to third on the fly ball to left by Damon Berryhill. Then Dawson was foolishly thrown out at second trying to steal and Tim Naehring lined out to short to end the inning. That was one of the only rallies of the whole game for Boston. Darrin Jackson walked to start the bottom of the second but Joe Hall struck out swinging. Jackson stole second but Ron Karkovice took strike three and Ozzie Guillen struck out swinging to end the inning.

John Valentin grounded out to third to start the top of the third before Greg Blosser flied out to center. Nixon took strike three to end the inning. The White Sox iced the game in the bottom of the third as Johnson walked to start. Grebeck doubled to left and Thomas hit a gap shot into right field. Blosser inexplicably then turned around and threw the ball into the stands for an error to score Johnson and Grebeck. Franco dumped a base hit to right to score Thomas to put the game away. Ventura struck out looking, Jackson popped up to first and Hall forced Franco at second to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 4-0.

                                                               Thomas puts the game away

The BoSox failed to respond in the top of the fourth inning as Fletcher flied out to right to start. Greenwell grounded back to the mound but Vaughn singled to right. Dawson forced Mo at second to end the inning. Hesketh recovered in the bottom of the fourth as Karkovice took strike three to begin the inning. Guillen grounded out to second and Johnson struck out swinging to end the inning.

Berryhill flied out to right to start the top of the fifth before Naehring struck out swinging. Valentin flied out to center to end the inning. The White Sox finally chased Hesketh in the bottom of the fifth as Grebeck grounded out to second to begin. Thomas walked but Franco flied out to right. Ventura singled to center and Sox manager Butch Hobson stumbled out of the dugout and had to be pointed to the direction of the mound. He had Rickey Trilcek warming but inexplicably brought in Paul Quantrill ice cold for a reason nobody knows. Jackson ripped a base hit to center to score Thomas and Hall got a base hit to right....under the glove of Blosser for an error. Ventura and Jackson both scored while Hall went all the way to third. Karkovice struck out swinging to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 7-0. Hesketh lasted just 4 2/3 innings while being charged with 6 runs off 6 hits and 3 walks.

                                                             Dammit Blosser

The BoSox failed to respond in the top of the sixth as Blosser took strike three to start. Nixon walked and Fletcher singled to left, but Greenwell flied out to center. Vaughn flied out to right to end the inning. Lee Tinsley took over for Nixon for the bottom of the sixth and Guillen doubled to left to start. Johnson flied out to center and Grebeck popped up to first, before Thomas took strike three to end the inning.

Dawson grounded back to the mound to start the top of the seventh before Berryhill flied out to right. Naehring singled to right but Valentin grounded out to third to end the inning. Ricky Trilicek came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh with Rich Rowland behind the plate and Franco grounded out to short to start. Ventura grounded out to first but Jackson walked. Warren Newson pinch hit for Hall and flied out to left to end the inning.

Blosser grounded out to short to start the top of the eighth but Tinsley singled to right. Fletcher got bagged for interference on a steal attempt so Tinsley had to stay at first. Greenwell popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning. The White Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Karkovice doubled to left to start. Ron moved to third on the Guillen grounder to second and scored on the Johnson grounder to second. Grebeck singled to center but Thomas flied out to right to end the inning with the White Sox up 8-0.

                                                             Johnson drives in a run

Fernandez returned to finish the top of the ninth and Vaughn struck out swinging to start. Dawson flied out to center and Rowland struck out swinging to end the game. The White Sox had won it 8-0.

                                                         "You can't beat me" - Fernandez

Jackass of the Night is Joe Hesketh. He got lit up for 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss. He allowed 6 hits and 3 walks.

                                                                  Jackass Hesketh

The Good:

Lee Tinsley got a base hit in his only at-bat.

Mo Vaughn was 2 for 4.

Tim Naehring was 1 for 3.

The Bad:

Mike Greenwell was 0 for 4.

Damon Berryhill was 0 for 3.

Rich Rowland was 0 for 1.

John Valentin was 0 for 3.

Greg Blosser was 0 for 3 with 2 errors and a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Otis Nixon was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.

Scott Fletcher was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Andre Dawson was just 1 for 4.

Paul Quantrill was charged with an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings.

Ricky Trilicek allowed a run in 2 innings of work.

Final Thoughts:

That was Boston's first real stinker of the season as absolutely nothing went right. Hesketh got pounded, the bullpen allowed a few runs and the offense couldn't touch Alex Fernandez. Greg Blosser looked like garbage in the field and at the plate, he might be overmatched right now. Not much you can do on a day like this but hope tomorrow is better. Its only early April so no time to panic, just one of those days where nothing goes right. Not much else to say really. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow when they head to Kansas City to face the Royals. Frank Viola goes for the Red Sox against Mark Gubicza of Kansas City. The game begins at 8:05 PM Eastern time at Kauffman Stadium.

Sox Sweep Tigers (4/7/94)

How about those Boston Red Sox? New Sox GM Dan Duquette promised good things in the future when he was hired and so far the Sox have won all three games they have played. It was timely hitting yesterday that got them by the Detroit Tigers and today it was an all out offensive attack. The Sox pounded out SIXTEEN hits and 9 runs, knocking Detroit starter Tim Belcher out in the fourth inning. Sox starter Danny Darwin (1-0, 3.60) lasted just 5 innings but held the Tigers to just 3 runs as the Sox took command. The Tigers rallied for 3 runs off of Scott Bankhead and Tony Fossas, but Greg Harris slammed the door with 2 scoreless innings. The Sox had swept the Tigers out of Boston with a 9-6 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                     Robert Parish approves of the win

The Tigers struck first against Darwin in the top of the first as Tony Phillips struck out swinging to start. Lou Whitaker singled to right but Eric Davis took strike three. Cecil Fielder hit a home run all the way to Nebraska to give the Tigers the lead. Travis Fryman struck out swinging to end the inning with the Tigers ahead 2-0.

                                                      Fielder gives Detroit the lead

Belcher took the mound in the bottom of the first and Otis Nixon ripped a base hit to left to start. Tim Naehring banged into a double play but Mike Greenwell tripled into the centerfield triangle. Mo Vaughn grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Tigers struck again in the top of the second as Mickey Tettleton hit a line drive to right, dropped by Greg Blosser in right for an error to send Mickey to third. Kirk Gibson hit a sac fly to score Tettleton and increase the lead. Alan Trammell and Scott Livingstone stroked back to back base hits but Phillips popped up to right. Whitaker grounded out to second to end the inning with the Tigers up 3-0.

                                                            "Nice going Blosser"

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the second with Milt Cuyler now playing center. Andre Dawson singled to left but Scott Cooper struck out swinging. John Valentin popped up to second but the ball fell in to force Dawson at second and Damon Berryhill walked. Blosser atoned for his error with a base hit to left to score Valentin and cut the lead. Nixon singled to left to load the bases but Naehring flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.

                                                         That's more like it Greg

Cuyler beat out an infield single to the mound to start the top of the third and stole second on the Fielder swinging strikeout. Fryman struck out swinging but Tettleton walked. Gibson flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox got power happy in the bottom of the third as Greenwell launched his second home run of the season to start. Vaughn doubled to left and Dawson crushed his second home run of the season to put the Sox in front. Cooper struck out swinging, Valentin lined out to left and Berryhill grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-3.

                                                Greenwell and Dawson give the Sox the lead

Trammell singled to center to start the top of the fourth but Livingstone lined out to right. Phillips singled to left but was erased on the force by Whitaker to put runners at the corners. Cuyler struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fourth as Blosser walked to start. Nixon beat out a bunt down the first base line and Naehring sacrificed the runners over with a bunt of his own. Mike Greenwell was intentionally walked to load the bases and chase Belcher from the game. Bill Krueger was brought in to face Vaughn and he struck Mo out swinging. Old pal Mike Gardiner was brought in to face Dawson but Andre walked home Blosser to increase the lead. Cooper flied out to center to end the inning but it was 5-3 Sox.

                                                               Dawson walks for an rbi

Fielder grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth and Fryman flied out to left. Tettleton walked but Gibson flied out to right to end the inning. That was it for Darwin who lasted just 5 innings but left with the Sox in front.

                                                        Not great but it'll do

Bill Gullickson took over for the bottom of the fifth and Valentin doubled to center to start. Berryhill scored Valentin with a double to left but was thrown out at third on a grounder to the mound by Blosser. Greg moved to third on the Nixon grounder but Naehring grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.

                                                          Berryhill drives in a run

Scott Bankhead took over for the top of the sixth and Trammell lined out to right to start. Livingstone singled to center but Phillips grounded into a double play to end the inning. Greenwell popped up to left to start the bottom of the sixth but Vaughn singled to right. Vaughn moved to second the on the grounder by Dawson and Cooper popped up to left to end the inning.

The Tigers inched closer in the top of the seventh when Whitaker hit a home run off Bankhead that landed in Lake Eerie to start. Cuyler lined out to right, Fielder grounded out to third and Fryman grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the seventh as Valentin popped up to third in foul territory to start. Berryhill singled to right and Lee Tinsley came in to run for him. Blosser flied out to left but Tinsley stole second base. Nixon walked and Naehring blasted his first home run of the season to ice the game. Greenwell was hit with a pitch and that was it for Gullickson. Greenwell had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Mass General's ICU. Mike Henneman came in to pitch and Rich Rowland came in to run for Mike. Vaughn singled Rowland to third but Dawson flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-4.

                                                      Naehring hits one out

Billy Hatcher replaced Blosser in right, Rowland took over behind the plate, Tinsley moved to left and Tony Fossas came in to pitch the top of the eighth. Tettleton walked and Danny Bautista pinch hit for Gibson. Bautista hit a home run all the way to Pawtucket, Rhode Island to cut the lead and that was it for Fossas. Greg Harris came in to pitch and Trammell grounded out to third before Livingstone  popped up to third. Phillips struck out swinging to end the inning with the Tigers down 9-6.

                                                        Bautista hits a home run

Cooper flied out to left to start the bottom of the eighth but Valentin singled to left. Tinsley walked but Hatcher flied out to left. Nixon forced Tinsley at second to end the inning.

Harris came back to finish off the top of the ninth and Whitaker walked to start. Cuyler lined out to first and Fielder banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-6.

Hero of the Night is Andre Dawson. He put the Sox on top with a 2 run homer and they never looked back.

                                                 Andre Hero

The Good:

Otis Nixon was 3 for 5 with a walk and a run scored.

Mike Greenwell was 2 for 3 with a walk and a home run.

Mo Vaughn was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

John Valentin was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Damon Berryhill was 2 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Lee Tinsley walked, stole a base and scored a run.

Greg Blosser was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.

Greg Harris tossed 2 scoreless innings to earn the save.

The Bad:

Scott Cooper was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Billy Hatcher was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Tony Fossas allowed a 2 run homer in the eighth inning.

The Ugly:

Tim Naehring was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 3 run homer.

Danny Darwin allowed 3 runs in just 5 innings but got credit for the win.

Scott Bankhead allowed a run in 2 innings of work.

Honorable Mention:

Rich Rowland caught the final two innings.

Final Thoughts:

One thing is for sure through the first few games of the season, the Sox are rusty on the pitching side but aren't missing a beat offensively. Roger Clemens, Frank Viola and Danny Darwin haven't looked good but the offense picked them up big time. The Sox bats have scored 23 runs in 3 games and have done it with small ball and the long ball. Otis Nixon has been good at the leadoff spot and even the unsung players have stepped it up. Dave Valle stepped up yesterday and today it was Damon Berryhill and Greg Blosser. The Sox have high hopes for Blosser even after his September disaster. Hopefully the big hit after he made an error will get his confidence going. The rotation's struggles are concerning but its early yet. Clemens will definitely get it going as the season progresses and hopefully the others fall suit. Darwin had his best season with the Sox last year so having another 15 win season this year would help. All in all it was a good win and winning the first three games is never a bad thing. The Sox now travel to Chicago to take on the White Sox. Aaron Sele makes his season debut against Jason Bere of the White Sox. The game begins tomorrow afternoon at 2:05 PM at Commiskey Park,