SOX GET BACK ON TRACK

The Detroit Tigers were a fashionable pick to win it all before the season has started, but they were 0-6 coming into this afternoon's game against the Red Sox. Kenny Rogers got the ball for the Tigers, and despite losing his first start against Kansas City, had pitched well enough to win. That wouldn't be the case against the Sox.

The Sox got 8 hits off Rogers, as well as 3 walks. But they only got 3 runs off the ancient lefty, leaving a total of 11 men on base throughout the afternoon.

But Daisuke didn't need much offense. Apart from his struggles in Tokyo, he's looked phenomenal. He went 6.2 innings, striking out 7, walking 4 and giving up 4 hits. He probably could have finished the 7th inning, as a pitch-count of 108 isn't high for him. Delcarmen went 1.1 scoreless, which was nice to see him get back on track. And Okajima pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout 9th.

It was a nice 5-0 win, but it could have been a great deal nicer. Ortiz continues to struggle, going 0 for 3 today. But he did manage to work 2 walks, and one of his outs was a 370 foot bomb to right-field that probably would have carried out of the park on a warmer day. Pedroia and Youkilis went a combined 5 for 8, and got on base 6 times in 9 plate appearances, but only scored once.

The Man of the Game was Daisuke, who is now 2-0, and leads all of baseball with 21 strikeouts.

One very nice touch to the somewhat bland ring presentation was Bill Buckner throwing out the first pitch. The ovation he got from the crowd was very nice to hear. That's one of the best parts of the 2004 and 2007 Championships, that players like Buckner can be forgiven, and won't have to have their least favorite memories replayed ad nauseum on Fox when the Red Sox play the Yankees.



It was also funny when the Fenway Hawk got a round of applause in the middle of the game. Only in Boston could a bird get cheered after attacking a teenage girl.



Jon Lester faces Jeremy Bonderman tomorrow night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
Photo by Steven Senne-Pool/Getty Images
Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images