Final Score in Los Angeles of Anaheim: Red Sox 4, Angels 8
ATTENDANCE: 35,666
Angels pitcher Matt Palmer was shaky in the first two innings against the Red Sox, allowing four runs. When he finished the game tonight, he had retired 19 straight Red Stocking batters, had his 4th major league win and first complete game. He told postgame television interviewer Jose Mota that Mike Scioiscia said "No More" when he returned to the dugout after allowing the fourth Boston run in the 2nd inning. talk about a player who listens to his manager.
On a night after a demoralizing bullpen implosion it seemed it would be an early night for the 30-year old rookie. But the Angel bats took over, stomping veteran manicurist Tim Wakefield for five runs in the 3rd inning for a lead that would never be relinquished. A 3-run homerun by Mike Napoli to the deepest part of centerfield let Palmer know that he was not alone.
The Boston Red Sox were obviously feeling fat and lazy over their 4-0 lead and with Wakefield, 93, their best pitcher on the mound, who could blame them knowing the bullpen of doom awaited them behind Door Number One were they to knock Palmer off his perch. But it was not meant to be as he allowed only 1 hit in the final 7 innings and stuffed a complete game down Pink Hat Nation's beer-sotted throat.
Every Angel in the lineup had a hit and Reggie Willits, starting his first game of the season in place of a sore Gary Matthews Jr., had two. Kendry Morales was 3-5, Torii Hunter hit a monster homerun for insurance and even lowly Erick Aybar beat out a bunt for a single. Aybar and Chone Figgins combined to leave 9 men on base in the game. Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, Brandon Wood was 3 for 4 with 2 HR in a 13-12 win for the SLC Bees. Wood is the heir apparent to Aybar or Figgins. Apparent to everyone on planet earth except Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
