NO UNDEFEATED SEASON

For those of you hoping for an undefeated season from the Red Sox... Well, nobody expected that, but it officially won't happen this year. The Oakland A's behind a stellar outing from starting pitcher Rich Harden earned a 5-1 victory over Boston to split the two-game opening series in Japan.

Harden struck out nine batters in his six innings of work to pick up the mound victory. He allowed just three hits and the nine strikeouts helped him avoid trouble with three walks. Harden is back on the mound for the A's after suffering a variety of arm issues the past three seasons.

Emil brown, who committed a base running error in yesterday's game, led the charge at the plate with a three-run homer. He launched his bomb in the third inning of starting pitcher Jon Lester to give the A's a 4-0 lead. Lester lasted just four innings giving up four runs on five hits and walked three batters. The two teams now return to the west coast where they will play several exhibition games before closing out the four-game series with each other in Oakland beginning Tuesday.

NINE MORE TO GO FOR MANNY

Manny Ramirez hit a solo homer in the sixth inning off of Harden. The bomb mover Ramirez to within nine homeruns of reaching the 500 mark for his career. He drove in five run in the two games for the Red Sox.

PHANTOM UPDATE

Many of you know I returned to coaching for the 2008 season. I am an assistant softball coach at Phoenixville High School (PA). The Phantoms opened the season today with a 3-1 decision over St. Pius X. Sophomore Kelly Foedinger took the mound victory going five innings with classmate Molly Ferguson coming in for a two-inning save. Senior Courtney Heming delivered what proved to be the winning hit with a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Phantoms a 3-0 lead. Twin sister Candice scored in front of her.