Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Game 1: Red Sox 6, Oakland 5

So the 2008 season has finally begun. In an exciting 6am start time here on the East Coast, the Sox faced the A's in Tokyo. Dice-K got the start for the Sox but and got lit up early, giving up 2 runs and 5 walks in the first 2 innings. He got out of some tough jams and only gave up 2 hits over 5 innings of work. His pitch count was very high though and threw 95 pitches (only 51 strikes) in those 5 IP. In the top of the 6th Manny put the Red Sox on the board with a blazer over the 3rd base bag that plated 2. Brandon Moss, who got the start for J.D. Drew because he had back spasms just before game time, then singled home Manny to put Boston up 3-2. Dice-K was in line for the win but Kyle Snyder gave up a 2 run HR in the bottom of the 6th to put Oakland back on top 4-3. The score stayed this way until the top of the 9th when Brandon Moss faced Huston Street. Moss took Street deep for his 1st major league HR to tie the game. In the top of the 10th Manny was at it again with another 2 RBI double to put Boston up 6-4. Papelbon came in to try and close out the game but looked very shaky. After walking the leadoff hitter he got Jack Cust to strikeout but then gave up an RBI double. A poor base running mistake led to the runner on 2nd being picked off and saved the game for the Sox. Papelbon then gave up back-to-back singles which would have tied the game and potentially won it for Oakland, before getting a ground out to end the game 6-4.

All in all, it was a good win for Boston and Dice-K battled back after a very rough first 2 innings. Manny and Pedroia looked very good as they each had 2 hits but Ortiz went 0-4.