John Smoltz News

A deep starting rotation has been one of the main reasons the Boston Red Sox are in first place in the AL East, and they're still waiting for another former Cy Young Award winner to start contributing.

Orlando Cabrera watched Tim Wakefield's knuckleball weave through the air. It fluttered slowly to the left, then right, then left again -- all on a single pitch.

Leastways, he has heard different versions of what you are saying. But here's the rub: He doesn't seem all that worried about it.

All-Star Josh Beckett allowed a pair of earned runs and fanned four in improving to 10-3. A day after his third Red Sox start and Fenway Park debut, a 6-0 loss to the A's Monday night, John Smoltz remained confused with his outing - "I still shake my head,'' he said - and confident about his pitching.

The right-hander was facing Mark Ellis, the ninth batter in the Oakland order, and he conspired with catcher Jason Varitek [ stats ] on a splitter down and in.

Anderson , who was 82 days old when Smoltz made his major-league debut on April 23, 1988, struck out a career-high nine, walked two and ended Oakland's 151-game stretch without a complete game.

The butterfly decals on the front bumper, flowers in the dashboard vase and lime-green paint job only confirmed Dennis Slice's perception of a Volkswagen Beetle parked in a lot at Florida State University.

Nomar Garciaparra was No. 1 at Fenway Park again, but he got a hand from starter Brett Anderson, who threw a two-hitter. Before we go anywhere, let's try to remember just how big Nomar was, and how much he was loved around here.

Rookie Brett Anderson threw Oakland's first complete game since last July 8 and outpitched 21-year veteran John Smoltz to lead the Athletics to a 6-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.

T he way John Smoltz sees it, his return from shoulder surgery can be charted along a continuum.

Red Sox update: Boston has played terrific baseball over the season's first three months, but the first-place Red Sox don't have much margin for error in the A.L. East because the New York Yankees have been hot.

John Smoltz was staked to a seemingly insurmountable lead in his last start, but a lengthy rain delay and a huge comeback prevented him from getting his first win in more than 14 months.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley can remember a time before John Smoltz was a big league pitcher.

WASHINGTON - Now pitching, No. 29 ... wait a minute. If that's John Smoltz on the mound, where's Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones and the tomahawk chop? Sorry for the flashbacks to ancient history.

After giving up four first inning runs against the Washington Nationals on June 25, John Smoltz rightly redeemed himself tonight against the Baltimore Orioles before his outing was cut short due to an hour and 11 minute rain delay at Camden Yards... by Amanda Bruno 1 43 reads Sports After giving up four first inning runs against the Washington ...

Sure was nice of John Smoltz to pay homage to Daisuke Matsuzaka like that in the first inning Thursday night.

Whether it was nerves, rust or age - or a combination of the three - John Smoltz had a rough debut for the Boston Red Sox.

Five days after his much-anticipated return from right shoulder surgery, Red Sox right-hander John Smoltz will take the mound again Tuesday against the Orioles with a lot less fanfare, and that's just the way he likes it.

When their ugly 11-10 loss to the Orioles was over, it was easy to forget the night's biggest positive for the Red Sox [ team stats ] - the work of starting pitcher John Smoltz.

John Smoltz will be attempting to atone for a shaky debut in a Boston Red Sox uniform when the star pitcher takes the mound for tonight's clash with the Baltimore Orioles from Camden Yards.