Congratulations John Smoltz!

Congratulations John Smoltz!  It’s been a few weeks in the making, but Smoltz earns his first victory in a Boston Red Sox uniform, as the Sox won 15-9.  Smoltz pitched a great game tonight verse the Kansas City Royals as he went five innings and left with a 9-1 lead.  His totals for the evening look like this 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 run (earned), 1 walk and 7 K’s on 97 pitches.  Smoltz who was 0-2 coming into this start, actually should have won in his second start of the season verse the Baltimore Orioles on June 30th. 

Unfortunately all of Red Sox Nation recalls that was the night the Sox bullpen imploded and gave up a 10-1 lead in the seventh, before losing to the Orioles 11-10.  So I’m sure that night was still fresh in the minds of the fans who were at tonight’s game.  Since the Royals started quickly chipping away at the Sox lead after Smoltz departed the game, scoring five runs in the sixth.  As they knocked Justin Masterson all over Fenway Park, in his 1/3 of an inning’s work.  After climbing back into the game at 9-6 with their effort in the sixth, the Royals let their chances slip away as they allowed the Sox to score 3 runs in each of the 7th and 8th innings.

Boston’s offense was powered by the long-ball as Jason Varitek, David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis (twice) all went deep verse the Royals pitching.  In fact the entire starting line-up with the exception of Mark Kotsay (0-2 with 2 walks) had hits in the ballgame.  With Dustin Pedroia, Youkilis and Ortiz leading the way for the Sox, as the 2-3-4 hitters combined for 6 hits, 7 RBIs and 8 runs.  With the victory Smoltz now improves to 1-2 on the year for the Sox, since making his return back from the disabled list.

It’s one down and hopefully many more to come this season for him.  Once again nice job Smoltzie and way to go Sox!