BOSTON – David Wells pitched seven sharp innings in his first Fenway Park start for the Red Sox, and David Ortiz hit a grand slam Friday night to lead Boston to a 10-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
A day after a scuffle between New York Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield and a fan in the right-field stands at Fenway, the mood was decidedly lighter for the visiting Devil Rays. The Red Sox broke the game open with seven runs in the second on Mark Bellhorn’s two-run double, Manny Ramirez’s bases-loaded walk and Ortiz’s line drive into the right-field seats.
Wells (1-2) allowed six hits and struck out three for his first win in six starts dating to Sept. 18 with San Diego.
Hideo Nomo, who pitched a no-hitter for the Red Sox in 2001, allowed eight runs on five hits and five walks in two innings. Nomo (1-1) allowed just one hit in his previous start, and his ERA ballooned from 1.50 to 10.12.
Wells had been awful in his previous two starts, allowing 10 runs and 19 hits in 10 2-3 innings. And he didn’t figure to improve in a ballpark he hated so much he once volunteered to push the button if they decided to blow it up.
He had been 10-10 with a 4.87 ERA in Fenway.
Nomo escaped the first with just Johnny Damon’s leadoff walk. But in the second, he walked four more batters and gave up Ortiz’s third career slam.
Edgar Renteria led off the third with a triple and scored on an error by catcher Toby Hall to make it 8-0. Jason Varitek singled to chase Nomo.
Notes: Tampa Bay C Tim Laker cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Durham. … 2B Jorge Cantu’s first-inning double extended his hitting streak to 10 games. … Wells’ No. 3 is the lowest number worn by a Red Sox pitcher since 1932. … Bellhorn was 2-for-18 before his two-run double in the second. … Ortiz snapped an 0-for-13 slump with his grand slam. Boston scored seven runs in the second, its most in an inning this year. … Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he hadn’t been contacted about his ejection Thursday night. “I actually think what I said was right,” Francona said. “I just shouldn’t have said it. I’m sure I’ll write a check for that lack of restraint.”
AP-ES-04-15-05 2209EDT
Comments are no longer available on this story