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PawSox improve to 2-0

FORT MILL, S.C. -- The long ball was the Pawtucket Red Sox’ most effective offensive weapon for the second straight night against the Charlotte Knights.

But in Knights Stadium, you’ve also got to have some pitching to win.

Ed Rogers, Joe McEwing and Kevin Cash each homered for the PawSox in a 5-1 victory in front of 2,757 fans at Knights Stadium on Friday. And Pawtucket pitchers struck out 15 Charlotte batters, led by starting pitcher Evan Hansack’s 10 strikeout in 5-2/3 innings.

"I’ve been coming to this ballpark for a couple of years now, and it can be hard to defend a 4-1 lead here," PawSox manager Ron Johnson said. "We were throwing quality stuff at people all night after we got on the scoreboard early. I’m real pleased with the last couple of nights."

The PawSox (2-0) rocked Charlotte knuckleballer Charlie Haeger for a pair of homers in the first two innings on the way to a 3-0 lead.

Rogers smacked a 3-1 knuckler from Haeger over the left field fence to lead off the game. And McEwing cleared the left field fence with a towering two-out, two-run drive after Brandon Moss doubled off the wall in right center.

Moss, whose first-inning grand slam was the big hit in Thursday’s 7-4 season-opening win, was one of three Pawtucket players with two hits each.

The PawSox added another run in the fourth. Alex Ochoa and Moss led off the inning with back-to-back singles. McEwing hit into a fielder’s choice to send Ochoa to third. The run scored on a two-out wild pitch by Haeger.

Meanwhile, Hansack frustrated the Knights for most of his outing. Charlotte scored its only run on Luis Terrero’s solo home run to deep center in the fifth. He left the game in the sixth after reaching his 75-pitch limit.

"He didn’t want to come out," Johnson said. "His stuff was good tonight. His fastball had a lot of action and I thought he got stronger after we got him a lead."

The Knights brought the tying run to the plate in that sixth innning, after Pedro Lopez lashed a leadoff double off Hansack and went to third on a wild pitch. Ryan Sweeney walked with two outs, but relief pitcher Craig Breslow got Ernie Young to pop up to first to end the innning.

Breslow and closer Craig Hansen combined for 3 1/3 innings of one hit relief and struck out five batters between them. Hansen pitched the eighth and ninth to earn his first save.

Pawtucket put a pair of runners on base in the eighth when Ochoa and Moss stroked back-to-back singles with one out off Knights reliever Paulino Reynoso. Both moved into scoring position on a two-out wild pitch, but Ryan Bukvich came in to strike out Chad Spann to end the inning.

Cash hit a solo homer to right center field off Bukvich with one out in the ninth.

--KEITH CANNON (Special to the Journal)

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 10:31 PM | Permalink

What They Are Saying

SAMMY SOSA (on his RBI single in the first inning): “Sometimes you don’t have swing hard to get a hit.” --AP

RON WASHINGTON (Texas manager on Sosa's soft single that gave the Rangers their first lead of the season): “We finally caught a break right there." --AP

TIM WAKEFIELD: “It’s one of those days where the guy on the other side pitched really good. After the first two innings, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I felt like I settled down after that. I pitched well, we just didn’t win.” --AP

SOSA: “The first couple of games every year, it’s still the same thing, people want get two hits in one at-bat and want to be the hero every day. It’s only a couple of games. Come see me in six months when everything is there. You have to believe in yourself, no panic.” --AP

MICHAEL YOUNG (Rangers shortstop on the team's first win): “It’s definitely nice to get the first one out of the way. It doesn’t matter how you win as long as you get one on the board. We come home and everybody was making such a big deal out of three games. It was almost like they were ready to talk about the Cowboys again.” --AP

DUSTIN PEDROIA (on the Red Sox hitting woes): “They were calling the high strikes today and we were popping them up. We hit some balls well, but not enough to get going.” --AP

DAVID ORTIZ (talking about his offensive struggles): ``Sometimes, at this point in the season, I’m trying to fix things. I always have to go through that point and fight, fight, fight. I’m very mechanical when I’m hitting, so if I have one thing wrong (with my swing), it’s tough to get hits. I’m trying to figure things out. It’s a fight. I go through it every year for the first five-to-10 games until I get it right.’’ --SEAN McADAM

ORTIZ (on the Rangers defense shift): ``I’m used to it. I don’t even think about it anymore. When I hit a ball in the right place, they’re not going to catch it. (The shift) is going to be there as long as I play baseball -- I better get used to it.’’ --SEAN McADAM

WASHINGTON (on wearing the No. 42 for Jackie Robinson Day): "It means a lot to me. I only know what I've read about Jackie Robinson, but I know he opened up baseball for blacks and I read the comment where if he had one hiccup, if he did one thing wrong, it would affect every black in America. That's some serious pressure right there. I don't have any pressure compared to that." --MLB.com

FRANCONA: ``A walk and an error, and they end up scoring, as so often happens. (Wakefield’s effort) should have been good enough to win.’’ --SEAN McADAM

WAKEFIELD (on settling down): ``I was getting the feel for the stadium. Usually, the wind is blowing in my face here, but today, it was blowing at my back. I pitched well. But it was just one of those days when the other guy pitched well and silenced our bats.’’ --SEAN McADAM

ROBINSON TEJEDA (Rangers starter): ``I just kept the ball down. --SEAN McADAM

WASHINGTON: "Pitching and defense. We pitched and we caught the ball. That's what I've been preaching." --MLB.com

TEJEDA: "This game means a lot to me. First game, Opening Day. For me it was great. It was on my mind that I needed to give these guys a win." --MLB.com

FRANCONA: "He threw his fastball up in the zone from the first hitter to the last hitter he faced. We continued to not get on top of it. I don't know how many fly outs we had. A couple firm, but for the most part, just kind of lazy fly balls. We just couldn't quite get extended." --MLB.com

BRAD WILKERSON (Rangers outfielder on the win): "It's big right now. We have a reputation where we don't pitch and we don't play defense. We're not swinging the bats particularly well, so to get a win like this gives us a lot of confidence. We need to win games like that to compete for the division." --MLB.com

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 6:24 PM | Permalink

Down without much of a fight

Despite a leadoff single from Manny Ramirez, the Sox went without incident in the ninth and lose 2-0, evening their record at 2-2.

More..much more!...on Projo.com later

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 4:20 PM | Permalink

Last Chance Saloon

The Sox are down to their last at-bat, with just two hits through the first eight innings...They'll have Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell due, probably against Akinori Otsuka, who's filling in until Eric Gagne is healthy.

Okajima has just been lifted after recording the first out in the home half of the eighth and Kyle Snyder is on his way to the mound.

Tex 2, Bos 0, bottom 8

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 4:03 PM | Permalink

Wakefield out, Okajima in

Tim Wakefield is through after six innings and 96 pitches. Wakefield allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), walked two and struck out four.
If things don't change, he'll be hung with the loss in what was probably the best start he's made in Texas in a long time.

Hideki Okajima is in to pitch the seventh

Texas 2, Boston 0, bottom 7

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:48 PM | Permalink

Is that a rocking chair on the mound?

It sure could be. Wakefield has recovered nicely from the first two innings and has retired the last 11 Rangers in a row and 15 of the last 16. Texas has managed just one hit since the first inning.
Strange factoid: five of the last nine outs have come on the ground, which is unusual for the knuckleballer who is more likely produce flyball outs.

Unfortunately for Wakefield, he's been given little support.

Texas 2, Boston 0, Top 7

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:33 PM | Permalink

Wasted Days and Wasted Chances

A one-out double off the scoreboard in left by Coco Crisp gave the Sox a baserunner in scoring position for the first time today, but the Sox couldn't take advantage. Doug Mirabelli fanned and Dustin Pedroia flied to right, stranding Crisp.

Wakefield has settled into a nice groove, meanwhile, retiring nine of the last 10 stretching back to the second

Texas 2, Boston 0, bottom 5

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:17 PM | Permalink

Here's to you, Mr Robinson....Tejeda

Red Sox aren't having much luck with the Rangers' starter. Through four innings, they have just two baserunners -- J.D. Drew lined a single off the pitcher in the second and Manny Ramirez drew a one-out walk.

Other than that -- zip.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:00 PM | Permalink

Knuckling under

The enigmatic knuckleball is starting to give the Rangers trouble. Wakefield's last four outs have all been recorded by strikeout, the last three swinging.

Meanwhile, new Texas manager Ron Washignton has deployed the shift against David Ortiz, stationing second baseman Ian Kinsler in Fort Worth or thereabouts. The move paid off in the top of the fourth when a discouraged Ortiz hit a grounder directly at Kinsler.

Texas 2-0, top fourth

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 2:55 PM | Permalink

Another inning, another run allowed

Texas upped its lead to 2-0, thanks to some sloppiness on the part of the Sox. An error by Dustin Pedroia allowed Brad Wilkerson to reach and after stealing second, he scored on a single to left by Gerald Laird.
Laird -- a slow-footed catcher -- then stole second, too. The Rangers are obviously ready to run all afternoon on Tim Wakefield.
Ominous stat of the day: Wakefield entered today with a 4-10 career mark and a 5.95 ERA.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 2:38 PM | Permalink

Sox fall behind quickly

Texas has a quick 1-0 lead after the first. Sammy Sosa -- remember him? -- dropped a check-swing single into shallow right, scoring Michael Young with the game's first run.
Sox went down in order against Robinson Tejeda in the top of the first.

Funny sight during pre-game introductions: The Sox had been advised that their starting nine would be introduced at 12:43 CST, but when the Rangers public address announcer jumped the gun by a few minutes, few Sox players were even in the dugout let alone the third-base line. For a few minutes, only Terry Francona and Kevin Youkilis were on the base line.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 2:20 PM | Permalink

Today's lineup

ARLINGTON, Tex. -- Finally a change in the Red Sox lineup . . . but an expected one, as Doug Mirabelli steps in to catch Tim Wakefield:

Julio Lugo ss
Kevin Youkilis 1b
David Ortiz dh
Manny Ramirez lf
J.D. Drew rf
Mike Lowell 3b
Coco Crisp cf
Doug Mirabelli c
Dustin Pedroia 2b
---
Tim Wakefield p

We'll be blogging during the game, so check back often.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 1:27 PM | Permalink

Listen to Rice's comments

Listen and judge for yourself whether former Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice was out of line with his recent comments at Wednesday's Pawtucket Red Sox Welcome Home Luncheon at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 1:15 PM | Permalink

Mannybeingmanny: Mouth jewelry?

Coming into the weekend series in Texas, Manny has reached base in five of his last nine plate appearances. The Rangers Ballpark -- which, you may remember, Ramirez would have called home had the A-Rod deal actually happened -- has been a pretty good place for him over the years. He's hitting .321 for his career in Arlington, above his lifetime average, with 7 home runs.

Earlier this week the Cleveland Plain Dealer spoke to Ramirez's former Indians teammate, Jim Thome, about the very real possibility that both men will reach 500 home runs this season. I still remember how that Indians lineup used to put fear into my heart whenever the Red Sox would play them back in the late '90s -- kind of like the Yankees' lineup as the season wound down last year. I also remember the crowd at Fenway chanting "Mann-y's hit-less" during that memorable 1999 ALDS.

It's kind of strange, but here humor columnist Christopher Wilson relates the Manny grill episode with a Texas ban on mouth jewelry in school. Mouth jewelry?

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:38 AM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink

Sox Streakers for April 6

This new feature is a look at daily club streaks. Much of the following information comes from the Red Sox game notes:

- The team has scored in the first inning of all three games this year.
- Boston relief pitchers have pitched 6 straight scoreless innings entering today.
- Mike Lowell, who became known as Mr. Doubles last year, has doubled in each of the team's games so far this year.
- Lowell, J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo and Dustin Pedroia have hit safely in all three games. Pedroia has reached safely in 6 of 11 trips, mmaking him the cllub's unlikely leader in on-base percentage (.545) heading into today.
- Jason Varitek is hitless in his last five trips to the plate and is hitting just .091 so far. He gets some time off today with Tim Wakefield pitching.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:37 AM to Projo Sox Streakers | Permalink | Comments 1

Projo SoxTalk with Art Martone and Sean McAdam

Sean McAdam calls in this morning from Texas, where the Red Sox are set to play the visitor in the Rangers' home opener. McAdam breaks down Daisuke Matsuzaka's dazzling debut and lets you know what you might look for in the coming series. Click here to listen to the audio file.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:51 AM to Martone , McAdam | Permalink

Baseball Today: Friday, April 6

There's really only one story, locally or otherwise, today, but we've found a couple of more to go with it . . .

HE'S THE REAL DEAL: That's what the headline said over Sean McAdam's story this morning (projo.com), and who can argue? It was Daisuke Matsuzaka's coming-out party, and, boy, he didn't disappoint. Everybody was there, from espn.com to si.com to mlb.com to nbcsports.com (though that was just the Herald's Tony Massarotti doing double duty). The locals included Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star. The Boston Globe got reaction from the victims, and even had someone in Japan. (boston.com) The expert opinion comes from Curt Schilling, though it's only part of a state-of-the-team observation and you have to wade through a pretty long post to find it. (38pitches.com)

DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL: Diamond Daily breaks down the numbers after the fact. (espn.com) But if you want to see something really impressive, go to Matsuzaka Watch. They pretty much nailed his performance before the game. (matsuzaka.blogspot.com)

BIKKURI, YANKEE FANS: Old friend Bill Simmons blogged the game from his home in Los Angeles, and he ended it with "Bikkuri, Yankee fans. Bikkuri. (That means 'be frightened' in Japanese.)" (espn.com) That's the kind of Red Sox fan hubris -- gloating after one start -- that Yankee fans just adore, by the way.

AND FIND SOME NEW PLACES TO PARK WHILE YOU'RE AT IT: With construction of the new Yankee Stadium wiping out parking spots around the old ballpark, residents of the South Bronx are getting angry over fans parking on their streets. (New York Daily News)

MARRIED TO THE MOB? And while we're on the subject, WNBC in New York is reporting that the construction firm helping build the new Yankee Stadium has ties to organized crime. (wnbc.com)

PILING ON A LITTLE MORE: Derek Jeter -- whose defensive abilities spark the greatest debates this side of creationism -- made two errors in the Yankees' 7-6 loss to the Devil Rays last night. (New York Daily News) Which, of course, is one fewer than legitimately outstanding fielder Mike Lowell made Wednesday night in Kansas City.

THIS IS THE CHEATING JIM RICE WAS PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT: MLB is investigating Angels ace reliever Francisco Rodriguez for allegedly doctoring the baseball during his appearances against the Rangers on Monday and Wednesday. (Dallas Morning News) The Cheater's Guide To Baseball Blog presents the visual evidence. (www.zumsteg.net)

THE LID-LIFTER, AS THEY USED TO SAY 50 YEARS AGO: The PawSox won their opener last night (projo.com). Mike Timlin pitched an inning and gave up two hits.

AND FINALLY: Chad Finn, whose Touching All The Bases blog is a cherished bookmark for me, has landed a gig on the baseball page at FoxSports.com. Congratulations, Chad, and good luck.

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:59 AM | Permalink