| 26 June 2009
John Smoltz made hius debut for the Red Sox last night against the Nationals, but despite having 20 years of major league experience, Smoltz struggled in the first inning - most likely due to the magnitude of the moment.
"Most of the time when the linescore is the way it is, I'm going to be very disappointed, but I really can't at this point," Smoltz said. "I lost a little rhythm there in the first inning ... but very encouraged with how good I can be and the way I felt and the stamina and everything going forward."
Smoltz tried all week to down play his return to major league action, but after the game he admited that this moment in his career was important:
"This was bigger than one start," Smoltz said.
Overall, the Sox have to be pleased. Once he got the jitters out, Smoltz was pretty sharp, locating and mixing up his pitches. He retired the last six batters he faced (the top of Washington's lineup) in order and struckout the side to end the 5th. I think we'll see the John Smoltz we are used to in his next start in Baltimore.
As for the offense, Rocco Baldelli's 2-run homer in the 9th was the most exciting part of the game. Jordan Zimmerman held the Sox in check through seven innings and the Sox really only had two or three chances to do damage. The legues best bullpen also struggled - Daniel Bard was all over the place after three different warm-up sessions in the pen and Takashi allowed a 2-run homer to Willie Harris, who, last time I checked, hits a handful of ding dongs per season... but whatever.
Bottom Line: The Sox won the series, but the Yankees took 2 of 3 from the Braves and moved within 4 games. They'll play the struggling and banged up Mets this weekend, so we'll need to win at least two games while we're in Hotlanta!
Oh... and Michael Jackson passed away last night at age 50. He was a weirdo, but you gotta respect what he did musically.
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