The Big Top Makes a Stop at Fenway

Geez, the Boston Red Sox broke out all the stops for opening day at Fenway, huh? The team received their 2007 World Series rings while the Boston Pops played and championship members of the other three Boston teams joined the team on the field. Bill Buckner threw out the first pitch then returned to his cave. The scene was even more ridiculous than it sounds but when you win the World Series, you can do what you want.

As for the game, the Red Sox (4-4) defeated the lifeless Detroit Tigers (0-7), 5-0. Dice-K got the win, going 6.2 innings, giving up four hits, four walks and seven strikeouts. It was the second straight outstanding start by Dice-K, who appears to have found himself stateside.

Kevin Youkilis led the offense with three hits, two RBI's, a run and a walk. Jason Varitek, Dustin Pedroia and Julio Lugo all added two hits apiece.

The Sox had two run-scoring sacrifice flys and a bases-loaded walk account for three runs. Plus, an RBI double by Youk and Manny came around to score after a triple into the triangle and a throwing error by Placido Polanco.

Many experts picked the Tigers to make the playoffs, some (Sports Illustrated)going as far as to pick them to win the World Series and so far Detroit hasn't been able to get out of the gate. You know they'll turn it around eventually but the numbers aren't on their side as no team has started 0-7 and made the playoffs.

Detroit's lineup is stacked yet they've struggled to score runs without Curtis Granderson. They have good starting pitchers but they haven't showed up yet and their bullpen (their biggest question mark) is a mess.

Kenny Rogers (4.2 innings, 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts) wasn't hit particularly hard but Boston waited him out and ran his pitch count up to 107 before he departed.

Manny Delcarmen (1.1 innings, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts) and Hideki Okajima (1 inning, 2 strikeouts) combined to get the last seven outs without giving up a run.

Boston finally gets back to some sense of normalcy tonight (no more Opening Day hoopla) as Jon Lester faces Jeremy Bonderman.