Hardball Heaven

David Ortiz is being interviewed on NESN right now, and he's wearing a necklace that looks like a bicycle chain. Of course, Papi can afford that chain and - even cooler - have his own brand of salsa because he hits the baseball a very long way. He hit his major-league leading 32nd bomb tonight (90 rbi's) but far more impressive was his two-run triple (not a misprint) in the 4th inning to give the Sox and Curt Schilling an early 3-0 lead. They went on to win 7-0, notching their first shutout of the year and getting a much-needed victory after last night's beating.

There were some questions about Schilling coming in - he got hit in the elbow last time out - but he pitched his best game of the year going seven innings and giving up only two hits. He really had the A's guessing what he was going to throw next, and the velocity was consistently 92-95. Schilling is now 7-0 at Fenway this year.

Papi's triple was the big hit of the game, as he was able to slice one down the right-field line, and then it rattled around a bit before Carl Everett Jr. could haul it in. That gave the Sox a 3-0 lead and they were off and running.

Kyle Snyder has been called up from Pawtucket to make the start tomorrow in place of Tim Wakefield, who is still battling back discomfort. Wake will start Monday. Joe Blanton goes for the A's.