RESULT - WIN – 8-2
The Sox open the season with a WIN and all is right again in Red Sox Nation, at least for one day anyway. While the score indicates a bit of a rout, the game was hardly that. In fact, the game was very close up until the top of the 9th when the Sox were able to get 3 runs to put the game out of reach and make a little easier on us Sox fans.
The Yankees didn’t exactly have an intimidating line-up out there but the Sox pitchers did very well. Lester had to work hard to get the win throwing 96 pitches (63 for strikes) in 5 innings. Though he wasn’t sharp, he did strike out 7 and only allowed 5 hits. The 2 walks and deep pitch counts in the 4th did him in and he was lifted after the 5th. I’d like to see him go 6 or 7 but if the bullpen is going to be like this for the year, 5 innings won’t be so bad. The bullpen allowed only 1 hit the rest of the game and struck out 3. Andrew Miller was a bit shaky in his 2/3’s of an inning walking 2 but he also struck out 2. Andrew Bailey came in to strike out Youkilis to put an end to the threat. Bailey impressed me the most because he totally dominated Youk in that at-bat. Newcomers Uehara and Hanrahan were also impressive with Uehara only throwing 5 pitches to retire the side in the 6th and Hanrahan having a perfect ninth.
On the offensive side of the ball it was all about patience and hitting with runners in scoring position today. The Sox had 8 walks (3 each for Salty and Bradley Jr.) and were 6 for 18 (.333) with runners in scoring position. Ellsbury and Iglesias each had 3 hits with Ells getting a 3B. For the Sox to have any realistic chances at doing anything this year, Ellsbury has to be the 2011 version of himself and he certainly looked good yesterday. Good showing for newcomers Shane Victorino (2/6, 3RBI) and Jonny Gomes (2/4 with a BB). Mike Napoli had a tough day in his debut going 0/5 with 2 K’s. The youngster Jackie Bradley Jr. had a nice debut walking 3 times and scoring twice. He didn’t get a hit but drove in his first run with a groundout in the 7th. Good for him but in his second at bat he looked lost against Sabathia. That will happen with a 22 year old now and then but he showed a lot of maturity and patience at the plate. He also made a very good catch in the OF on a deep ball hit by Cano. He was playing a bit too shallow on Cano who blasted a ball the opposite way. He was able to track it and make a nice acrobatic running catch to save a run or two. Very strange positioning with Cano up at the plate but I don’t know if that’s on him or the coaching staff.
Red Sox defensively looked great. The outfield with Bradley, Ellsbury and Victorino look great out there. I know when Ortiz is back and Gomes is out in LF it’s going to be scary but for the first two weeks or so it’s going to be fun to watch. Watching Iggy (Jose Igesias) field grounders all day at short is a thing of beauty too. I think I could just watch him field grounders for three hours straight and be perfectly happy. Going to be a bit of a shame when Drew is ready to play. While I think Drew is a ten times better hitter than Iggy, he is a wizard at short.
Lastly can we all agree that Joba Chamberlain’s mustache has to go! God that’s awful. I’m not saying that the mustache is the reason he let up 3 earned runs in 2/3’s of an inning and will start the season with a 40.50 ERA but I’m sure it’s not helping. Also, Youk looked so damn strange in pinstripes and no goatee. Going to take a long time to get used to that picture.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
This one’s a bit tough because there were many deserving players. But I’m going to go with Shane Victorino for his 2 hit, 3 RBI performance. He came up in two huge spots and delivered both his hits and drove in some much needed runs early. All 3 of his RBI were with 2 outs and something that the Sox just didn’t do last year.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Going to have to give it to newcomer Mike Napoli for the 0 for 5, 2 strikeout performance. I know these days will happen but in your Sox debut vs. the Yankees we were hoping for more. Plenty more opportunities big fella and I hope you’re not in this area very often.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Bottom of the 3rd when Robinson Cano hit a deep fly to Left Field that phenom Jackie Bradley Jr. raced back and made one hell of a catch on. I know the positioning was questionable but that was a big catch early in the game. With a runner on 2nd, if that ball gets over his head, he scores and Cano most likely ends up in scoring position. The catch kept the game at 4-0 and gave Lester some confidence. Good catch young Bradley, hope to see a lot more.
NEXT
Wednesday 4/3 at the Yankees. See you then.
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