Another fantastic game

Today was the Red Sox home opener, and the new-look '06 Sox didn't fail to put on a show. Prized off-season acquisition Josh Beckett pitched beautifully, young flamethrower Jonathan Papelbon dazzled in the ninth, and the Sox offense put together a nifty second inning, scoring the four runs that would have been enough to beat Toronto. The Sox moved to a 6-1 record (first time since 1999) on the season in their 5-3 victory over the Jays.

Beckett's first inning was a bit of an adventure, but after he walked in the Blue Jay's first run, a double play off the bat of first baseman Shea Hillenbrand saved him from any more damage. But, not unlike in Beckett's debut in Texas, the pitcher settled down and put the Blue Jay's offense away for the rest of the game. He pitched 7 innings in the game, allowing three hits, four walks and one run while striking out 2. After a 36 pitch first inning, Beckett left the game with just 105 in the game.

The Sox bats came alive in the second inning. After Josh Towers allowed a walk to Trot Nixon and a single by Jason Varitek, third baseman Mike Lowell (4-4) hit the first of his three doubles to score Nixon and tie the game. The next batter, center fielder Adam Stern (who started in place of Coco Crisp), also doubled and scored Varitek and Lowell, putting the Sox in the lead for good. Stern then stole third base and scored on a double by first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was batting in Crisp's leadoff spot.

The only other Boston run of the game came on David Ortiz's second homerun of the season, his first of many at Fenway Park.

Keith Foulke came on in the eighth inning and allowed a base hit to Blue Jays shortstop Russ Adams. Then outfielder Frank Catalanotto hit a fly ball to right field that bounced out of right-fielder Wily Mo Pena's glove and into the bullpen for a two-run homerun, cutting the Sox lead to two runs. Two fly outs got Foulke out of any more trouble and paved the way for Papelbon to come on in the ninth.

Papelbon sparkled. He easily put down Jays sluggers Lyle Overbay, Hillenbrand and Bengie Molina on just ten pitches, eight of which went in for strikes. Papelbon's dazzling stat line on the season moved two 4 for 4 in save oppurtunities, five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in his five innings of work.

Other notes:
Trot Nixon left the game in the fourth inning today with a groin injury and was replaced by Pena. More on his status to come.

The Sox did not call up Willie Harris to take Crisp's spot on the roster, but instead went for Dustin Mohr. Francona said it was so they could have another right-handed bat in the outfield, but after Trot went down today Francona might be kicking himself because Adam Stern may be the only lefty remaining in the outfield.

Meanwhile, across the majors:
Bronson Arroyo is doing some amazing things for the Cinncinatti Reds. Not only did he pitch seven scoreless innings to improve his record to 2-0, but he hit his second homerun in as many starts! Arroyo came into the season without ever having hit a homerun in his career, and without having a hit since 2001. Now he's got more homeruns than Barry Bonds! Good for you Bronson. It seems like you are going to thrive in the National League, so keep it up.

The Cubs and slugging first baseman Derrek Lee agreed to a five-year deal with a no-trade clause that's reportedly worth around $65 million. It's the biggest contract signed by the club since Sammy Sosa's four-year, $72 million deal in 2001.

Former Cy-Young winner Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays left his team on their road trip, returning to Toronto to nurse a sore forearm. He's expected to miss at least one start. With AJ Burnett spending time on the DL and Ted Lilly's persistent back problems, what has the potential to be a star rotation in the American League East is facing some adversity to begin the season.