Quality Start

The Red Sox couldn't sign Kevin Millwood during the offseason. So they did the next best thing, beat him like a rented mule, capturing the season opener for the first time since 2000, topping Texas 7-3.

The 'new look' Sox, not just another Soviet-style 5 year plan in the making used a quality start by Curt Schilling (7 IP, 2 ER) and Doctor Longball, with taters from Big Papi and Mike Lowell to earn the win.

Meanwhile, Jon Papelbon looked like Dr. Frankenstein's monster in shutting down the potent Rangers, and Keith Foulke made it interesting, serving up batting practice to Texas, who could only manage a run off the Comeback Player of the Year wannabe.

Coco Crisp showed serious wheels on the basepaths and made a spectacular run-saving catch in the 9th, sparing Foulke further damage to his E.R.A. Meanwhile David Ortiz had 3 hits and 3 RBI in his first repudiation statement concerning last year's MVP balloting.

Hope springs eternal, especially on the first Monday in April, where even the Royals, Rays, and Reds can claim to be in the pennant race.

The Sox continued to lead the majors in defense throwing up a goose-egg of errors today.

Alumni Elsewhere. Meanwhile, for the Dodgers, Nomar got off to a day on the bench with a rib injury and Derek Lowe issued only one walk in 5 innings, but took the loss, allowing 7 earned runs and running his E.R.A. to 12.60. Why should we care? It's simply who we are and what we do.