May 21, 2008
Boston 3, Kansas City 1
After watching the ball fly around the park last night, a pitcher's duel broke out a Fenway with a combined 8 hits from the Sox and Royals as Boston held on for a 3-1 victory over Kansas City.
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Zack Greinke kept batters off rhythm all night, despite a wind blowing out to left at 12 mph.
"He mixes his pitches up as well as anyone else," Jason Varitek said of Greinke. "He's young, but you can see the potential that everyone has been raving about all these years. Same with Daisuke. He's coming into his own this year, learning how to work American hitters."
Trailing 1-0 in the 4th after a solo home run from Jose Guillen, Coco Crisp led off the inning with a walk. After advancing to second on a sac bunt by Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz got Boston's first hit of the game, a line drive RBI-single to right that score Crisp easily to tie the game.
In the fifth, Boston went ahead after Jose Guillen misjudged a liner to right field that bounced down to the corner, allowing Mike Lowell to pick up his first triple of the year. Julio Lugo followed with a double to center and Jason Varitek singled to right for an insurance run.
Matsuzaka made the lead stick for Boston, picking up his third complete game of the season.
W: Matsuzaka (6-3) L: Greinke (4-6)
Player of the Game: Daisuke Matsuzaka ( 9 IP, 4 Hs, 1 R, 8 K's, 112 PI)
Around the League:
...Anaheim CL Franciso Rodriguez (19 g, 2-2, 11 SVs., 2.21 ERA) is expected to miss 8 weeks after straining a muscle in his back...Edison Volquez (4-4, 2.48 ERA) led the Reds to a 9-0 win over Los Angeles with a 4 hit shutout, striking out 10 and walking none...1B Scott Hatteberg (33g, .220 avg., 1 HR, 13 RBIS, -6.3 VORP) was released by the Cincinnati Reds. Hatteberg agreed to join the Seibu Lions of the Nippon League (1 yr./$2.072m)...