Sometimes you get good Daisuke, sometimes you get bad Daisuke. Tonight, it was definitely good Daisuke.
Throwing 112 pitches, Daisuke Matsuzaka went 8 innings without allowing a run. This was no Houdini act by Daisuke either, allowing only 6 baserunners on 4 hits and 2 walks. He racked up 5 strikeouts in the outing, transitioning to Daniel Bard, who allowed a meaningless solo shot before finishing off the Sox win, 4-1.
The offense was powered by Marco Scutaro, who made it on base 4 times with 3 doubles and a walk. He scored in the first inning on a long Kevin Youkilis sac fly, and in the second on a David Ortiz fielder's choice, when Papi beat the throw to first on what would have been an inning ending double play. Victor Martinez chipped in two hits and a sacrifice fly in his return to Cleveland, continuing his return to form from the left side of the plate.
With all the activity of draft night, the Red Sox went out and picked up a very workman-like win against a tough starter. Game 2 will see Tim Wakefield take on David Huff in a battle of the greater-than-6 ERAs.