DOUG MIRABELLI

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Mirabelli puts the charge into the Red Sox

April 21, 2004 ... Make that three home runs in eight at-bats off Lilly. As if Doug Mirabelli were starring in his self-written story, he went from all but lobbying Francona to stick him in Manny Ramirez's cleanup spot to putting the Red Sox on his back as he launched a pair of homers off Toronto's lefty starter to knock in three runs and spearhead a 4-2 victory over the faltering Jays before 16,163 at SkyDome.

That could end quickly if he maintains his current pace. After all, he has homered three times in nine at-bats this season while batting .556 (5 for 9). What is he, the Johnny Bench of backup catchers?

Unlike Hall of Famer Steve Carlton, who insisted Tim McCarver serve as his personal catcher, Wakefield has never demanded he pitch only to Mirabelli. But maybe it's time he started. After all, Wakefield has gone 20-9 with a 3.61 ERA since Mirabelli became his exclusive catcher July 23, 2002. And Mirabelli is headed for free agency after the season.

Wakefield has pitched to a vanload of catchers over his 10 seasons with the Sox. But few have advanced the knuckleballer's cause as much as Mirabelli, especially last night. With the Sox lineup otherwise all but unable to break through against Lilly and Toronto's relief corps, Mirabelli pounded a changeup over the right-field fence leading off the third inning and slammed a two-run shot off the face of an upper deck in left field with two outs in the fourth to provide all the runs the Sox needed.

In any case, Wakefield made the most of Mirabelli's offensive surge, stifling the Jays for 6 2/3 innings as he improved to 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA through his first three starts. Wakefield, who has held opponents to a .206 batting average, scattered six hits and two walks as he rationed the Jays only the two runs before he handed off to Alan Embree with two outs in the seventh. Embree carried the Sox through the eighth before Keith Foulke mowed down the Jays in the ninth for his fifth save in as many opportunities.  Sox relievers extended their streak of scoreless innings to 13 1/ 3 as they helped extend Toronto's run of misery. The Jays became the first American League team since the 1992 Tigers to open a season 0- 8 at home.

Doug Mirabelli's multihomer game was the second of his career and the first since he homered twice with the Giants April 18, 2000, at Cincinnati. He is batting .625 (5 for 8) with three homers against Lilly.  Miirabelli is scheduled to return to the bench tonight as Varitek catches Curt Schilling in the series finale. But Mirabelli just might show up at Francona's door to try to change the manager's mind.

Terry Francona said Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon continue to make progress in their rehab programs. Garciaparra could begin running next week, while Nixon appears on track to start a minor league rehab stint before the shortstop. Neither appears likely to return by May 1st.