[BostonRS14]

May 9th, 2008:

Boston 6, Minnesota 4

The Red Sox looked slow coming off their series against the Tigers, but in the end, had enough to outlast the Twins 6-4 in the opener of their four game set.

After being held to just two hits over the first five innings, Boston broke the game open against Boof Bonser in the sixth with five runs on 6 hits to pull ahead for good.

David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis led off the inning with a pair of walks before Bonser got himself into trouble. Leaving a fastball too far over the plate, JD Drew made him pay with a two-run triple off the top of the wall in right-center. Mike Lowell put the score on top with a RBI-single to center. After a pop-out by Brandon Moss, Jason Varitek launched a line-drive home run just over the wall in left to end Bonser's night.

The Twins took the lead early against Josh Beckett with solo runs in the third and fourth. Brian Buscher led off the third with a solo home run, the eighth that Beckett has allowed in seven games this season. In the fourth, Joe Mauer led off the inning with a four pitch walk and advanced to second on an one-out ground out by Jason Kubel. Beckett almost got out of trouble when the next batter, Michael Cuddyer, slapped a liner to Alex Cora, but the backup shortstop put the throw past Youkilis at first into the dugout to let Mauer score easily from second.

Minnesota threatened in the seventh, adding two runs before Hideki Okajima shut the door on the rally with the tying run on second.

W: Beckett (2-2) L: Bonser (1-4) SV: Delcarmen (3)
Player of the Game: Jason Varitek (3-4, 2 HRs, 2 Runs, 3 RBIs,)

Around the League:
...Ben Sheets (Mil) was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a damaged meniscus...Atlanta resigned MR Will Ohman (17g, 2-0, 1.93 ERA) to a 2 year contract extension worth $3.2m

New England 1, FC Dallas 1

The Revolution took on FC Dallas tonight at Gillette Stadium. Despite little sense of anticipation amongst the local fans for a match against the Western Conference club, players in the New England locker room were looking forward to meeting up with former teammate Steve Ralston, who joined FC Dallas in February after six seasons with the Revs.

Coming off a 1-0 loss to D.C. United, the Revolution didn't look sharp in front of their home fans in pulling out a 1-1 draw. Outplayed for most of the match, it wasn't until Francisco Mendoza added his first goal of the year in the 81st minute did the fans get into the game. After intercepting a clearing kick from keeper Ray Burse, Mendoza found himself wide open on a give-and-go with Taylor Twellman. Taking a clear shot on net, Mendoza was fortunate to pick up his own rebound and deposit his second chance into the back of the net for the equalizer.