Red Sox Report: Fenway opener much more friendly

Friday, April 13, 2012

John Rooke, GoLocalWorcester Sports Editor

The Tampa Bay Rays - or more specifically, Luke Scott - tried to spoil the birthday celebration at Fenway Park.

But the Red Sox were having none of that on Friday in their home opener for 2012, kicking off a season-long celebration of Fenway Park's 100th birthday. Scott infamously told MLB.com this spring that he enjoyed watching the Sox burn last fall as a member of the Baltimore Orioles...largely because of the arrogance of Fenway fans.

Scott, now a member of the Rays as a designated hitter, also told MLB.com before Friday's birthday-opener that Fenway is a "dump."

In response, the Sox proceeded to dump on Tampa Bay, blasting the Rays 12-2, for their eighth straight season-opening win.

Josh Beckett went eight innings and gave up only five hits, with the one run coming from a Jeff Keppinger double scoring Ben Zobrist in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Boston went to work on Tampa starter David Price in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on an Adrian Gonzalez single, Kevin Youkilis' sacrifice fly and a David Ortiz infield hit. It was 4-1 Sox in the 4th after Jacoby Ellsbury singled home Kelly Shoppach.

The offensive explosion came in the 8th inning with the Sox still leading 4-1. Shoppach, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI, started the rally with a two-run double to left. Ten batters came to the plate before the first out was recorded, with Ryan Sweeney, Youkilis and Ortiz all driving in runs. 14 batters came to the plate in the inning, eight scored, and the bases were left loaded.

Perhaps the Red Sox simply decided to show Scott and his teammates they were ready to defend Fenway's honor? Scott said before the game "as a baseball player, going there to work, it's a dump. I mean, it's old. It does have a great feel and nostalgia, but at the end of the day, I'd rather be at a good facility where I can get my work in. A place where I can go hit in the cage, where I have space and it's a little more comfortable to come to work."

Talk about your party pooper. Few can deny that Fenway is on the smallish side, and that other ballparks have amenities that Fenway doesn't. But there's no denying Fenway still plays favorably for Boston, and for a team struggling at the start of the year for a second straight season, Fenway's confines apparently still suit the Sox just fine.

NOTES:

Shoppach's day was sensational...he was the first Red Sox player with three hits, three runs scored, hit by a pitch and a stolen base since Billy Werber accomplished the same stats in 1936...Ellsbury left the game holding his right arm to his body after he was injured sliding into second base in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Sox announced it was a right shoulder injury and that he would be further evaluated later in the day. Cody Ross moved to center and Ryan Sweeney entered the game to play right field. The injury also comes almost two years to the day that Ellsbury fractured ribs in a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre in Kansas City...Clay Buchholz and Jeremy Hellickson are the starters scheduled for Saturday's 4:05 pm start in game two of the four game series...