Schilling, Sox Shutout Devil Rays (4/28/04)

So far, so good for the Curt Schilling (3-1, 3.31 ERA) era in Boston. After being signed to make a difference this season, he's been worth every penny spent so far. Tonight he mastered the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for 7 1/3 innings, not allowing a single run to Tampa. Meanwhile the Sox beat up Paul Abbott of Tampa. Jason Varitek hit a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth and drove in another run against Travis Harper in the seventh. Mark Bellhorn drove in a run against former NBA player Mark Hendrickson and Bill Mueller drove in the final run. Alan Embree and Lenny DiNardo put the finishing touches on the win by slamming the door as the Sox defeated Tampa 6-0 at Fenway Park.

                            New Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers approves of the win

Schilling got the ball in the top of the first as Carl Crawford flied out to center to start. Rocco Baldelli beat out a roller to short and Aubrey Huff singled in the hole at second. Robert Fick popped up to third and Tino Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning. Abbott got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Johnny Damon grounded out to second to start. Bill Mueller popped up to first and David Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning.

Julio Lugo lined out to third to start the top of the second and Jose Cruz Jr flied out to center. Toby Hall singled to right but old pal Rey Sanchez forced Hall at second to end the inning. Manny Ramirez grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second before Jason Varitek took strike three. Kevin Millar flied out to center to end the inning.

Crawford struck out swinging to start the top of the third before Baldelli grounded out to third. Huff popped up to short to end the inning. Mark Bellhorn walked to start the bottom of the third before being forced at second by Gabe Kapler. Cesar Crespo got a base hit to right but Damon flied out to left. Mueller flied out to center to end the inning.

Fick lined out to first to start the top of the fourth before Martinez struck out swinging. Lugo doubled in the hole at short but Cruz struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fourth as Ortiz grounded out to first to start. Ramirez doubled to left and Varitek launched his third home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Millar got a base hit to left and Bellhorn doubled off the Monster but Kapler lined out to third. Crespo grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.

                                                              Home run Varitek

Hall popped up to short to start the top of the fifth before Sanchez flied out to left. Crawford grounded out to second to end the inning. Damon popped up to third to start the bottom of the fifth before Mueller grounded back to the mound. Ortiz walked and Ramirez got a base hit to left but Varitek grounded out to second to end the inning.

Baldelli struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth but Huff flied out to center. Fick also flied out to center to end the inning. Millar grounded out to third to start the bottom of the sixth but Bellhorn walked. Kapler forced Bellhorn at second but Crespo grounded out to second to end the inning.\

Martinez struck out swinging to open the top of the seventh but Lugo singled to center. Cruz struck out swinging and Hall took strike three to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the seventh as Damon grounded out to first to start. Mueller got a base hit to right and Ortiz hit a double off The Monster to chase Abbott. Travis Harper came in to pitch and Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Varitek made the Rays pay with a base hit to right to score Mueller. Millar popped up to short and Mark Hendrickson was brought in to face Bellhorn. Mark got a base hit to left to score Ortiz and Ramirez. Kapler flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 5-0.

                                                             Bellhorn gets it done

Schilling came back briefly in the top of the eighth with David McCarty now in at first base. Sanchez flied out to center and Sox manager Terry Francona came out to get Schilling. Curt was outstanding, tossing 7 1/3 shutout innings allowing just 5 hits while striking out eight. Alan Embree came in and Crawford struck out swinging. Baldelli flied out to right to end the inning.

                                                                   Good work Curt

Crespo grounded out to short to start the bottom of the eighth before Damon beat out a roller to third. Mueller doubled to center to score Damon before Ortiz struck out swinging. Ramirez lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 6-0.

                                                          RBI for Mueller

Lenny DiNardo came in to close out the top of the ninth and Huff grounded out to first to start. Damian Rolls pinch hit for Fick and took strike three but Eduardo Perez pinch hit for Martinez. Perez grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-0.

Hero of The Night is Curt Schilling. He throttled the Devil Rays for 7 1/3 innings allowing 5 hits while striking out 8

                                                                Hero Curt

The Good:

Bill Mueller was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.

Manny Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Jason Varitek was 2 for 4 with a 2 run homer and 3 total rbis.

Mark Bellhorn was 2 for 4 with 2 walks and 2 rbis.

Alan Embree got the final two outs of the eighth inning.

Lenny DiNardo tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Gabe Kapler was 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Johnny Damon was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.

David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

Kevin Millar was just 1 for 4.

Cesar Crespo was just 1 for 4.

Honorable Mention:

David McCarty played first base in the final two innings.

Final Thoughts:

Another great start by Schilling and he's been worth every cent to start the season. Sox fans have been screaming for another starter to go with Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe for two years and Schilling was what the doctor ordered. He shut down the Rays big time tonight while the Sox bats responded to get to Abbott. Bellhorn, Varitek, Mueller and Ramirez all had multiple hits and when this lineup is on, they're very tough to defeat. The best part is this isn't even the Sox at full strength, eventually they're going to get back Trot Nixon, Byung-Hung Kim and Nomar Garciaparra. Kim and Arroyo are essentially going to have a duel for the 5th starter spot when Kim gets back. The rumor is Kim will be activated for tomorrow's doubleheader and it'll be interesting to see who goes. It might be Mark Malaska, it might be Phil Seibel, who knows. The Sox look to continue the momentum in tomorrow's doubleheader against the Devil Rays. Byung-Hung Kim is scheduled to make his season debut against Victor Zambrano of Tampa. The game begins at 1:00 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Crush Contreras, Yankees (4/23/04)

The bad news was the Boston Celtics lost Game 3 of their first round NBA playoff series to the Indiana Pacers but the good news was the Boston Red Sox routed the New York Yankees. Boston's personal punching bag Jose Contreras was once again rocked by the Sox as they lit him up for five runs before he left in the fourth inning. Bill Mueller then hit a three run home run off Donovan Osbourne to put the game out of reach. Derek Lowe (2-1, 6.75 ERA) tossed 6 solid innings allowing just 2 runs to keep the Sox in front. The Sox poured it on against the Yankees bullpen with Manny Ramirez hitting a home run as the exclamation point. The Sox had made a statement to the Yankees on the road as they beat them 11-2 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                  Cynthia Brimhall approves of the win

Contreras got the ball in the top of the first inning and Johnny Damon led off by striking out swinging on a pitch in the dirt. Bill Mueller popped up to Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz flied out to center to end the inning. Lowe got the ball in the bottom of the first and Bubba Crosby grounded out to second to start. Derek Jeter lined out to right but A-Rod doubled to right. Jason Giambi walked but Damon made a snowcone catch to rob Gary Sheffield to end the inning. 

The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Manny Ramirez took strike three to start. Ellis Burks singled in the hole in right and somehow stole second base. Jason Varitek grounded back to the mound to move Ellis to third and Kevin Millar walked. Mark Bellhorn got a seeing eye single into right to score Burks and Pokey Reese popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                     Bellhorn drives in a run

Hideki Matsui singled down the left field line to start the bottom of the second before Bernie Williams lined out to Bellhorn. John Flaherty grounded into a double play to end the inning. 

Damon walked to start the top of the third before stealing second. Mueller flied out to left but Ortiz walked. Ramirez hit a 410 foot out to center to move both runners over but Burks grounded out to third to end the inning. Enrique Wilson grounded out to short to start the bottom of the third before Crosby struck out swinging. Jeter grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

The Sox knocked out Contreras in the top of the fourth although Varitek struck out swinging to start. Millar belted his second home run of the season to increase the lead and Bellhorn responded with his second home run of the season for back to back jacks. Reese singled to right and stole second before Damon walked to chase Contreras. Donovan Osbourne came in and Mueller promptly hit a three run bomb to ice the game. Ortiz flied out to right and Ramirez popped up to first to end the inning.

                                                    Sox pour it on

A-Rod grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the fourth before Giambi grounded out to short. Sheffield walked but Matsui grounded out to third to end the inning.

Burks struck out swinging to start the top of the fifth before Varitek grounded out to second. Millar walked and Bellhorn struck out swinging to end the inning. Williams singled to center to start the bottom of the fifth before Flaherty grounded into a double play. Wilson got a base hit to center but Crosby grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox struck again int he top of the sixth as Reese grounded out to second to start. Damon doubled into the right field corner but Mueller flied out to center. Ortiz ripped a double to center to score Damon and chase Osbourne. Scott Proctor got Ramirez to fly out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 7-0.

                                                          Ortiz drives in another run

Jeter struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth before A-Rod grounded out to short. Giambi grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Sox kept pouring it on in the top of the seventh as Burks walked to start. Varitek struck out swinging and Millar flied out to left but Bellhorn got a base hit over the head of Wilson into right. Reese hit a pop up but Crosby fell down and couldn't make the play, scoring Burks and Bellhorn for a "double". Damon got a base hit to center to score Pokey and Mueller walked. Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 10-0.

                                              Microcosm of tonight's game for New York

David McCarty came in for Ortiz at first to start the bottom of the seventh but Sheffield got a base hit to left to start. Matsui then hit a home run all the way to Long Island and that was it for Lowe. He went 6 plus innings and allowed 2 runs. Mike Timlin came in and Williams grounded out to second before Flaherty struck out swinging. Wilson flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 10-2.

                                                              Good work by Lowe

Alex Graman came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Ramirez greeted him with his fourth home run of the season to wrap up the scoring. Burks flied out to right and Varitek hit a pop up to shallow right. Sheffield dropped it for an error but Millar forced Varitek at second. Bellhorn took strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 11-2.

                                                      Home run Manny

Cesar Crespo came in for Mueller to start the bottom of the eighth and Crosby lined out to short to start. Jeter struck out swinging but Mueller failed to throw out A-Rod in time on a ground ball for a "single". Giambi took strike three to end the inning.

Reese flied out to center to start the top of the ninth before Damon grounded out to third. Crespo struck out swinging to end the inning. Doug Mirabelli took over behind the plate as Lenny DiNardo made his ML debut on the mound in the bottom of the ninth. Sheffield grounded out to third and DiNardo got his first career K when Matsui went down hacking. Williams grounded out to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 11-2.

                                                            Sox win

Hero of The Night is Bill Mueller. His three run bomb put the game out of reach.

                                                        Bill Hero

The Good:

Johnny Damon was 2 for 4 with 2 walks, an rbi, a stolen base and 2 runs scored.

Kevin Millar was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a home run.

Mark Bellhorn was 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.

Pokey Reese was 2 for 5 with a stolen base, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.

Derek Lowe got the win with 6 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out two.

Mike Timlin tossed two scoreless innings.

Lenny DiNardo pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Cesar Crespo struck out in his only plate appearance.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

The Ugly:

David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and drove in a run.

Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.

Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but stole a base, walked and scored two runs.

Honorable Mention:

David McCarty played first base in the final innings.

Doug Mirabelli caught the bottom of the ninth.

Final Thoughts:

That's four out of five to start the season for the Red Sox against the Yankees. Usually the Sox have good April's but fall apart by June, not just against the Yankees but against everyone. It remains to be seen how June will be but so far the Yankees have no answers for the Red Sox. Derek Lowe was their punching bag last year but came up big tonight. The bats delivered tonight but mostly the trio of Bill Mueller, Ellis Burks and Mark Bellhorn. Yes Ortiz drove in a run and Manny hit one out but those three were the key factors. Ellis stealing a base, Bellhorn's homer, Damon's steal...everything went right. Lowe was pitching great but the long inning where the Sox had the rally disrupted his rhythm. Still, that's a great problem to have when you get a 10 run lead and have your bullpen ready to help. Good work by Timlin and by rookie Lenny DiNardo in his ML debut. All in all the Sox pounded Contreras again and beat the Yankees in their home turf. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Yankees tomorrow afternoon when Bronson Arroyo goes one on one with Kevin Brown. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.