FORT MYERS, Fla. — 36 pitches, 28 strikes.
For all the excitement and anticipation surrounding Northeastern’s 7-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition contest last Friday night, that figure may be the most telling. That is the pitch log for Red Sox hurler Curt Schilling, who went three innings in his first tune-up of the 2004 campaign.
“I felt good, a little nervous,” he said. “It’s good to get that first one out of the way. I’m either in neutral or I’m in full throttle; I don’t have a second gear. A game like today, much like 2001 in my mind, where I made the first start of spring training, went like Game 7 of the World Series as far as my whole preparation thing in getting ready for the game.
“It’s the same schedule from today on, and it changes the adrenaline flow for me. It’s a good thing, I look forward to it.”
After Schilling’s perfect first, Northeastern hurler Justin Hedrick did his best to keep pace with the Sox’ newly acquired ace, but struggled in his lone inning of work. The senior gave up two runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one. The big Nebraskan took the performance in stride.
“The game was a lot of fun, but it was rough” he said. “I would have liked to strike everybody out, but I ended asking my lumps alright.”
After walking the first two batters, Hedrick hit his stride against the unlikeliest of batters: Manny Ramirez.
“I threw (Ramirez) a slider first, but I think I just went fastball and tried to bust him inside,” he said. “It was awesome. I don’t know if he wasn’t seeing the ball well tonight or something, but he’s a good player. I wanted to strike him out; it would have been the time of my life.”
Hedrick got his wish on the very next at-bat, striking out Kevin Millar looking. The two walks came back to haunt him, however, as Mark Bellhorn and Jason Varitek had consecutive RBI singles. A Brian Daubach flyout ended the inning.
Northeastern’s MVP on this night was none other than Millar. Besides striking out against Hedrick, he gave Husky first baseman Paul Koslowski a scouting report on Schilling. The senior put the advice into action, as he led off the second inning with a single. After striking out the next two batters, Brad Czarnowski hit a single to right center. Koslowski tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate by centerfielder Gabe Kapler.
Schilling would give up one more hit, a single to Matt Morizio to lead off the third. He would be erased on an inning-ending double-play two batters later.
The game remained relatively close, until Kevin Millar hit an RBI double and Cesar Crespo hit a grand slam of off Dave Pellegrine in a five-run sixth inning for the Olde Towne Team.
Northeastern didn’t record another hit for the rest of the game.
— Evans Erilus, News Staff