YANKS GET THE FIRST ONE

Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and admit you were beaten. On Friday evening at Fenway Park, the Red Sox had to do just that. Chien-Ming Wang tossed a two-hit complete game to take down the Red Sox 4-1.

Wang was masterful in his nine innings of work. He pounded the strike zone early and often, retiring the first 10 batters he faced before Dustin Pedroia reached base on an error. The first hit he allowed was a home run to rightfield that outfielder Bobby Abreu probably should have caught at the wall. However, Wang settled immedately and cruised the rest of the way. He needed just 93 pitches to pick up his complete game victory.

BUCHHOLZ STEPS UP

Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz was more than solid in his six innings of work. The Red Sox rookie allowed just four hits and left with the game tied 1-1. Buchholz struck out three and walked three. His control was noticably better than in his first start of the season and will be rewarded with victories more often than not with efforts like that.

A CALL TO ARMS

Again the Red Sox bullpen was victimized. Mike Timlin, fresh off the DL did not fair well in the seventh inning. He gave up a homer to Jason Giambi leading off the inning and then gave up a double to Jose Molina. A sacrifice bunt moved Molina to third base and Timlin's night was over. He picked up the loss and was charged with two runs.

PHANTOM UPDATE

The Phoenixville High School softball team improved to 5-2 (4-2 league) on the season with a 3-1 road victory over Lansdale Catholic Friday afternoon. Sophomore Kelly Foedinger got the mound victory with seven innings of two-hit softball. She struck out eight batters allowing an unearned run. Sophomore Molly Ferguson continued her good pace at the plate with a two-run double in the fourth ining to open the scoring. Senior Gail Dooley followed with a RBI single to close the scoring for Phoenixville which is now in a tie for second place in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.