• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Sox erupt for six first-inning runs on Patriots Day

Apr 16, 2007 - 9:01 PM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Josh Beckett drilled Vladimir Guerrero with a pitch in the first inning. Then Ervin Santana got pounded by the Boston Red Sox.

Santana failed to record an out before the Red Sox scored five times in a six-run first en route to a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Patriots Day win completed a rain-shortened three-game sweep in which the Red Sox outscored the Angels, 25-3. It was supposed to be a four-game series, but Sunday's game was rained out by a storm that swept through the Northeast.

"Hitting is contagious and everyone is swinging the bat well and we are finding holes," Boston's Julio Lugo said.

Monday's traditional Patriots Day game at Fenway Park - played alongside the Boston Marathon - began at noon EDT, two hours later than scheduled. Guerrero and the Angels probably wish it was rained out as well.

After former Red Sox Orlando Cabrera homered in the first inning, Beckett (3-0) plunked Guerrero on the right wrist. Beckett was warned by plate umpire Rick Reed, as were the managers of both teams.

The 2004 American League MVP, Guerrero left the game. X-rays were negative and Guerrero is listed as day-to-day with a soft tissue contusion.

"The ball hit him as firm as you can be hit and hopefully it'll be something that won't keep him out of the lineup," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Perhaps Monday's start time was too early for Santana (1-2), who yielded six hits in the first inning.

Lugo led off with a double and scored on a single by Kevin Youkilis, tying the game. David Ortiz doubled and Manny Ramirez followed with a two-run single to right field, making it 3-1.

Santana thought he had a chance for a double play when J.D. Drew hit a grounder to second. But Howie Kendrick's throw was wide of shortstop Cabrera and sailed into the outfield, allowing Ramirez to score. Mike Lowell doubled home Drew, giving the Red Sox a 5-1 lead.

"I think he made some mistakes and we capitalized," Lowell said. "I mean we hit five balls on the screws so it was not like we were getting lucky. He (Santana) made some adjustments but it was a little too late."

Santana finally retired Jason Varitek on a flyout and Wily Mo Pena on a foulout before Alex Cora capped the outburst with an RBI double.

"We came out swinging very well, got a little help, took advantage of it and then pretty much made it stand up which was good," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Santana allowed just one hit - a solo home run by Ortiz, his fourth of the season - over the next three innings. Ortiz finished with eight RBI in the three-game series.

"I thought he (Santana) had a lot of problems commanding his fastball," Scioscia said. "He would throw some strikes with it but sometimes he would try to come in and left it out over the plate. Sometimes he didn't quite get it where he wanted to and it took him a while to bring his other pitches into the game."

Boston is second in the major leagues with 17 first-inning runs, 12 of which have come in Beckett's three starts. The righthander pitched five scoreless innings after yielding the home run to Cabrera.

"It shows what kind of offense we have and what our offense is capable of," said Beckett, who gave up six hits, struck out five and walked one. "I'd like to take some credit for making sure they are comfortable out there with my pace and to get them back in there swinging the bats."

It marks the second straight season that Beckett has started with a 3-0 record.

Kendrick homered off reliever Kyle Snyder in the ninth inning.