July 19, 2003 ... Trot Nixon raised a clenched fist before he even reached first base. Nixon had just belted the ball past the stingy Toronto infield, allowing Gabe Kapler to easily score the winning run from third. You don't need a mammoth blast with the game tied in the bottom of the 10th inning, a runner on third base, and nobody out. All you need to do is get the ball past the infield. Nixon did just that to lift the Red Sox to a dramatic 5-4 triumph over the Blue Jays and end Boston's three-game losing streak.

The feat was redemption for Nixon, who popped to the catcher while trying to bunt in the eighth then considered destroying the bat in disgust. The single was one of several plays by a Red Sox team determined to end the losing streak, making up for struggles at the plate with solid base running. Jeremy Giambi led off the 10th with a pinch-hit single off Aquilino Lopez (1-3). Pinch runner Kapler stole second and took third on Greg Myers's throwing error, setting the stage for Nixon.

The Red Sox (56-40) remained four games behind the AL East- leading Yankees, who defeated Cleveland, 7-4. Red Sox closer Byung Hyun Kim (3-2) picked up the victory, walking one and striking out two in one inning. The Red Sox entered the ninth against Juan Acevedo trailing, 4- 3, and were quickly down to their last out.

Nomar Garciaparra walked, stole second, then scored the tying run when Manny Ramirez singled to right-center on a 3-2 pitch. Ramirez went to second on Acevedo's wild pitch, but designated hitter David Ortiz grounded out to end the rally. The Red Sox finished with four stolen bases, two by Garciaparra.

Leading, 4-3, the Blue Jays threatened in the top of the eighth when Howie Clark walked and Vernon Wells hit a ground-rule double into the Red Sox bullpen. After Carlos Delgado grounded out and left fielder Bobby Kielty was intentionally walked, reliever Alan Embree was pulled for Todd Jones, who induced Greg Myers to ground into a double play.

The Sox took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, Garciaparra scoring when Nixon grounded out. But Jason Varitek left the bases loaded when he grounded to second.

Red Sox starter Ramiro Mendoza (5 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts) a few easy innings, retiring the side in order in the first, second, and fifth. The Red Sox starter got off to a good start in the sixth, striking out Reed Johnson and getting Howie Clark to ground to first. But Vernon Wells walked, Mendoza hit Delgado with a pitch, then gave up an RBI double to Kielty. When Tom Wilson doubled in two runs to put Toronto ahead, 4- 2, Mendoza was relieved by Mike Timlin. Mendoza threw 84 pitches, 47 for strikes. It was the first time he left a game with a deficit in three starts this season.

With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Mueller sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left for his ninth home run of the season, pulling Boston within 4-3.

There was some question as to whether Ramirez interfered with Toronto catcher Greg Myers's ability to make a solid throw when Garciaparra was attempting to steal second in the ninth. On a 3-1 count, Ramirez took the pitch and, apparently thinking it was a ball, started across the plate toward first. But the pitch was called a strike, and with Garciaparra running, Myers came up throwing. He managed to get the throw off, but it bounced short of second base. On the next pitch, Ramirez drove home Garciaparra with the tying run on a single to right-center field.