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The Red Sox Walk Into First Place of the Standings
by Andy Liakos
2006-04-07
Boston lays the smack-down on the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the series opener. Matt Clement pitched a solid game, but most of Boston's help came from a surprising source in Baltimore's starting pitcher, Daniel Cabrera.
Ouch! This clown walked six batters and allowed four runs before the top of the first inning was complete. He would take the mound again in the second, but only for another 1/3 inning and would not head back to the dugout without first allowing 3 more runs and walking yet another Boston batter. Cabrera just could not find the plate today, although he was yanked early, it just wasn't early enough to keep the O's in the ballgame.
Baltimore rallied back late in the seventh and through the eighth, but the hole that Cabrera had put them in was so deep, the O's just could not climb out of it. Seanez allowed four runs compiled of one double, three singles, a three-shot home-run, and if it wasn't for six-time gold glover J.T. Snow and his fantastic scoop down the line, Seanez was on pace to out-fumble Daniel Cabrera.
On the mound for Boston, Matt Clement pitched a strong game and brought with him his usual assortment of quality junk. Perhaps the most questionable starting pitcher in Boston's rotation, tonight Clement had a great showing and gives good promise to his 2006 campaign.
Alex Cora pinched hit for Mark Loretta in the eighth, pulling the ball fantastically to left field with a single and two RBI's to put Boston on top, 13-4. It's always nice to see our backup infielder step up to the plate and knock in a few runs. But it's even nicer to see Trot Nixon still on fire. He hit another two-run shot tonight, and I'm really confident that we will get the best of him this season, and once again he will be an extremely productive member of the Boston lineup.
The Boston Red Sox literally walk into first place tonight with a 14-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles. After watching the game, I'm still not sure if Clement beat Cabrera, or if Cabrera beat himself. Either way, who really gives a shit. Sure the season has just begun, but as far as the American League East is concerned, the Red Sox are first, and the Yankees are the worst. If you're a Sox fan, that's all that really matters.
