Sox 4/3/2006 - Texas

ESPN Box Score

A good game for the Red Sox. Varitek knocks in 2 runs in the 4th with a 2 out double, Loretta plates one run in the 5th and scores along with Ortiz on Papi's home run. Big Papi adds another run in the 7th thanks to Coco's speed and Lowell adds the insurance run leading off the 8th with his home run. Final score 7 - 3 bosox.

Looking at box score you will see that everyone who started the game except for Youkalis got at least one hit. All of the runs scored by the sox except for Lowell's home run came with 2 outs. Only four batters struck out (with Coco Crisp doing the double dip) and there were two walks for the boys. The Red Sox made the opposing pitchers throw 168 pitches (4.2 per plate appearance).

Schilling went 7 innings throwing 117 pitches of which 79 were for strikes. In the first inning he threw a 93 mph fast ball, and on his 103rd pitch he registered 92 mph. Overall a strong start and will give him a solid B for this outing. His only struggles came in the 5th and the 6th innings with the 6th providing 2 runs on a Blalock home run down the right field line.

Papelbon went 1 - 2 - 3 in the 8th with a K throwing only 13 pitches, 10 for strikes. Give him a solid A for this outing. Foulke on the other hand struggled. 1 inning pitched 2 hits 1 earned run given up and if it hadn't been for Crisp making a fine running catch it would have been worse. Give the Foulkster a D.

Over all grade for the pitching B+ thanks to Schil and Papel. Question raised is how long is the leash for Foulke? Just like last year it seems like he gets hit around after he has gotten 2 strikes on the batter. For some reason he is having a hard time getting that 3rd strike for the out. I also think that like last year his pitching motion is different than it was in 2004. Maybe it is the camera angle but it just looks different.

Offense gets overall grade of A. Any time you can have the team do a .375 obp. you will score well, and with 6 of 7 runs coming with 2 outs that means clutch hitting. Question raised -Gonzalez what were you thinking in the 7th when you were doubled off on a fly ball to center and no outs? Varitek, I know that you are like hitting .220 with bases loaded but can't you at least hit the ball hard (I was hoping that hitting the grand slam in the WBC would help you)?

Tomorrow - Wakefield - here's hoping he has his A knuckleball.

Update: added ESPN Box score link