Athletics 5
It took 10 innings and it wans't pretty, but the Red Sox won the first game of the 2008 season 6-5 over the Athletics.
Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled out of the gate and walked 5 batters in 5 innings of work, but he also had 6 strikeouts and only gave up 2 hits - one just happened to be a home run.Matsuzaka had a chance to ear the win when Manny and Brandon Moss drove in three runs in the top of the 6th, but Kyle Snyder gave upa 2-run homer in relief, making it 4-3 A's.
Moss would tie it in the 9th off A's closer Houston Street, but Manny would not be denined the Bottom Line Hero Award. With a chance to win the game for the Red Sox Manny towered, a fly ball to right field and watched it for what felt like 5 minutes. The crowd (and Manny) thought it was gone, but it ended up being a bases clearing double once Manny started running.
Francona looked like a genius choosing to use Okajima in the 9th, but Papelbon was not as dominant as we all would have liked. Especially after the big rasie and the Mariano Rivera references...
He would give up a run and catch a lucky break when Emil Brown tried to stretch a double into a triple... but he closed out the game and earned the save and the Red Sox are 1-0 in 2008.
Bottom Line Heroes: I've decided Brandon Moss is worthy of sharing the Award with Manny. Maybe Drew will go on the DL and give the kid a chance to play in the bigs...
Notes: David Ortiz went 0-4 witha walk and a run, stranding 5... Julio Lugo and Dustin Pedroia each had two-hit games... Okajima, Lopez and Corey combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings of middle relief.
2 comments:
Way to go Brandy Moss!
I hope this isn't going to be another year of JD Drew whining that he doesn't feel good...we won't be able to hear his whining over the cheers for Brandon Moss.
Domo Arigato, Mr. Moss.
Post a Comment