SUPER GABBARD!

Big Papi homered tonight. And so did Manny. Oh, and so did Pedroia. That accounted for four runs. Not much else to report offensively. The Sox only had seven hits, four singles and three homers.

It didn't matter because the Royals couldn't do anything with Kason Gabbard, who's cut fastballs, slurves and change ups kept them off balance for nine innings. Thats right, nine innings. The bullpen got a well deserved night off as Gabbard threw only the second complete game by a Red Sox pitcher this season. Gabbard struck out eight and only walked one. He also hit two batters.

In other Sox-related news, Clay Bucholz started his first game for AAA Pawtucket. He was alternately very effective, not so effective, and very effective again. Buchholz ended up pitching three innings and giving up five hits, three runs (two earned), and striking out four. He allowed a long home run in the second inning when all the scoring took place. I didn't get to watch the game, but reading the Globe's account sounded as if Bucholz had a mild case of the yips. He's scheduled to throw 75 pitches next Saturday, his next start, which is a step up from the fifty he threw today.

Curt Schilling threw a simulated game, or at least part of one, today as well. He was apparently very effective, as evidenced by the effusive quotes from Schilling himself and Terry Francona describing how wonderfully the ball came out of his hand. Schilling's next step is to throw a side-session in preparation for a rehab start in Pawtucket. Should that happen without setbacks, Schilling will make a start in Pawtucket this coming Saturday. The Globe points out, and you may have noticed, that Clay Bucholz is also scheduled to start for Pawtucket on that same Saturday night. Not sure how they'll work that one out...

AL East: Toronto lost to the Yankees, Baltimore lost to Seattle, and Tampa didn't play. The Sox lead of 9.0 games over New York holds. They pick up a game on Baltimore and Toronto, and lead them by 11.0 and 15.0 games, respectively. Tampa drops to 20.5 behind Boston.

Tomorrow: The Sox play game number two of the three game series versus Kansas City. Tim Wakefield goes against AAA call-up Leo Nunez, who pitched ineffectively for the Royals in 2005 and 2006. Bludgeoning starts at 7:05pm EST