Red Sox Runover Athletics, 8 to 2

BOSTON: 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 - 8 10 1

OAKLAND: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 2 4 0

The Boston Red Sox got it together today! They stopped their second three-game losing streak, established their highest run production of the season, and had a complete game outing from pitcher Tim Wakefield. In fact, Wakefield had a perfect game into the sixth inning and he continued the no-hitter into the eighth inning. This was a much needed win against the Oakland Athletics as the Boston bullpen had been extensively used in last night's loss at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. And the usual batting breadth of the Red Sox was displayed as everyone in the lineup, except Dustin Pedroia, had a hit. Dustin will come around with the hitting, as will Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz.

Boston ends their first road trip by winning two games out of six games - not quite the four games out of six games I had hoped for at the beginning of the trip. No matter, the Red Sox head home in good spirits and good form to take on the Baltimore Orioles Friday night. That game will be the beginning of a nine-game homestand in which they will also play the Minnesota Twins and Boston's traditional AL East rival, the New York Yankees. An excellent homestand would be winning six or seven games out of nine games. Boston will probably win five games out of nine games.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Winning Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (1)

OAKLAND: Starting Pitcher: Brett Anderson, Losing Pitcher: Brett Anderson

BOSTON: Homeruns: Mike Lowell (2), J.D. Drew (2)

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RED SOX: Wins: 3, Losses: 6, AL East Standings: Toronto, Baltimore, New York, Tampa Bay, Boston

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Next game: Friday 17 April 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Baltimore Orioles, Fenway Park, Brad Penny