Red Sox Inch Past O's 4-3...Daisuke A Go

It took a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth to break a tie ball game and put the Boston Red Sox ahead to stay by a score of 4-3. Jonathon Papelbon allowed one hit and walked two in the ninth but preserved the Sox victory and earned the save, his fourth. Big Papi David Ortiz clobbered a monster tater for his first home run of the 2010 season. That was a very nice sight to behold. Adrian Beltre, the player who drew that base on balls and drove in the winning run, had a multi-walk game, which is very rare for him. After the game, he said this...

“I went to home plate taking the first pitch, and he threw me a first-pitch strike,” Beltre said. “After that I was trying to make the ball get up. He threw a couple of sinkers down and in. It worked out for us.”

Jon Lester was far from perfect, going only 5 2/3 innings but allowing zero runs. He walked four Orioles and his breakout 2010 start simply hasn't happened yet. It will. Bard and Okajima allowed the three runs that tied it but Manny Delcarmen pitched a scoreless eighth and Paps followed with his shaky but scoreless ninth. John Lackey will try to rebound from his "off" start last time out. I like our chances. We have Baltimore's number, but so do most other teams, if not every one of 'em.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will be on the mound for a four inning simulated game on Monday and will make his first 2010 start this weekend against this same Oriole's team. His task should be an easy one...attack the zone and DO NOT NIBBLE at the corners. Tim Wakefield will be the rotation's odd man out, relegated to the bullpen. After a 15 minute meeting with Terry Francona, the Boston manager, Wakes walked off without a comment. I understand him perfectly. He had off season surgery and worked his tail off so that he would be able to pitch this year. In the 'pen, he'll probably be used for long relief, which means that Boston would most likely be down by multiple runs. I feel bad for Timmy and I wish him the best.

That's it for this Saturday. Enjoy your weekend, click on the title of this post for more on the Sox and as always, BE WELL. See ya.