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THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Curt Schilling reaches
a strikeout milestone
May 19, 2004 ... Curt
Schilling delivered a victory as he rationed the Rays only one run on five hits and a walk over seven innings to pace the Sox to a 4-1 triumph before 13,960 at Tropicana Field. Along the way, Schilling fanned Aubrey Huff in the third inning for the 2,600th strikeout of his career. Only three active pitchers (Roger Clemens,
Johnson, and Greg Maddux) have recorded more strikeouts. Even more striking, only 19 pitchers in history have fanned more than 2,600 batters, and all but three of them (Bert Blyleven, Mickey Lolich, and Frank Tanana) who are eligible for the Hall of Fame have reached Cooperstown. Schilling has miles to go before he reaches the
threshold of the Hall of Fame Gallery. But he continued to build his resume by posting his 168th career victory, frustrating the Rays at nearly every turn.
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KEITH FOULKE |
With Schilling in charge on the mound, Johnny Damon broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third inning with a solo homer off Tampa Bay starter Rob Bell, newly recalled from Triple A as the Rays tried in vain to win for just the second time in 13 games. And Manny Ramirez dinged
Bell moments later for a two-run homer for the 4-1 cushion.
David Ortiz, who doubled and scored on Ramirez's blast, knocked in Damon with the game's first run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
After Schilling departed, the Sox' defense created a little mess behind Alan Embree in the eighth inning. First, second baseman Mark Bellhorn booted Rocco Baldelli's grounder for an error. Then no one covered the base when Huff bounced to Ortiz at first base, putting
runners at first and second with two outs. At that, manager Terry Francona summoned Keith Foulke in a save situation in the eighth inning for only the second time this season and for the first time since April 10. Foulke responded by getting Robert Fick to ground to Ortiz for the final out, then returned to
carve up the Rays in order in the ninth for his eighth save. The save was Foulke's 22d in as many tries since last season.
The Sox improved to 5-0 against Tampa Bay this season and have outscored the Rays, 28-7. |
