Sox win first extra-inning game

Pitching was key in Boston's 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers today. Daisuke Matsuzaka was superb, giving up two hits in five innings. So Daisuke could have actually got out of the sixth if this were a real game. Wow. The teams combined for just seven hits, as Justin Verlander gave up just two hits and a run in five and 1/3 innings. All the scoring occurred on home runs, two of them being fairly surprising players. Jacoby Ellsbury started the scoring in the fourth with his second homer in 4 games, this one a long drive to right that was a no-doubter.

Unfortunately for Boston fans, Matt Albers came in to do some work for a couple innings. In the seventh inning, Miguel Cabrera tied the game with a blast to center. I think that this homer was the least surprising. I just knew he was going to crush one. The game remained knotted through the ninth when Darnell McDonald, who had two strikeouts today, smashed one off Brad Thomas. McDonald just crushed it, and I am very happy. I am happy because last year the Sox were terrible in extra-inning games, so it is nice to see them get off to a good start. Brandon Duckworth came in for his second inning of work and sealed the deal, winning the game for the Sox.

Trivia
Ellsbury is batting .414 in the preseason.