MARK MULDER

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The A's crush the Red Sox

May 27, 2004 ...  Everything was going so well. No team in baseball boasted a better record than the Red Sox. Their pitchers topped the American League in ERA. Their batters were averaging 6.2 runs in the Fens. And their refocused fielders had committed only a single error in their previous nine games. The Sox were sailing so smoothly.  But Terry Francona's crew steamed smack-dab into a streak-busting obstacle, much of it self-constructed.

The league's best pitching staff got whacked around like a piñata. The bats went all but silent. And the Sox defense committed two errors that cleared the way for six unearned runs as the A's romped in a 15-2 laugher before 35,438 at Fenway Park.

It was a night when the neon lights above the park might have been better suited flashing "SOS," as the Sox absorbed their most lopsided defeat since June 19, 2000, when the Yankees pummeled them, 22-1. The Sox surrendered the most runs in the Fens since July 24th, when the Devil Rays thrashed them, 15-9. They also coughed up 17 hits, matching their season high. The loss was so ugly, in fact, that the Sox spiraled to a 12-0 deficit by the fourth inning, marking the first time since July 23rd, 1999, in Detroit that an opponent has run up at least 12 runs without the Sox scoring.

Yet no one wanted to forget the experience more than Sox starter Bronson Arroyo, who got tagged for nine runs (six earned) on seven hits, including a two-run blast by Eric Chavez, and two walks over just 3 1/3 innings. There were plenty others eager to sleep off the ugliness. Notable among them were Reese, whose second-inning error opened the door for three unearned runs, and third baseman Kevin Youkilis, whose seventh inning miscue enabled the A's to score three more unearned runs.

Sox hitters, who struck for 21 runs over the previous two games, were unable to gain any traction against Oakland starter Mark Mulder, even though the lefthander walked a career-high seven batters. The Sox had a prime chance in the first inning when Mulder walked Johnny Damon, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez to load the bases with one out. The opportunity was especially sweet since Mulder had walked only one batter over the previous 20 innings. But the Sox were unable to capitalize as Jason Varitek was caught looking at a 1-and-2 pitch before Kevin Millar went down looking at an 0-and-2 pitch. Mulder, in addition to the seven walks, allowed four hits before he was forced out with a high-pitch count (115) with two outs in the sixth inning.

Another day, a little more progress for Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon. Garciaparra, who hit again against Harvard righthander Trey Hendricks, said he had "a great day." It was his third straight day of rigorous activity as he ran the bases, fielded grounders, and swung so hard he deposited at least one ball on Lansdowne Street. The shortstop will take regular BP with the team today and swing against a Harvard pitcher tomorrow before the Sox decide on his next step. With the Sox departing for Anaheim Monday, they could be close to setting a tentative date for Garciaparra to go on a rehab assignment.

As for Nixon, he played five innings in right field in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, Fla. Although he made a couple of nice plays, Francona said, Nixon was running at about 75 percent as he tries to come back from a strained left quadriceps.

Bill Mueller left town with his family to prepare for arthroscopic surgery on his knee today in Phoenix. He will remain in Arizona for a while as he undergoes therapy until he resumes the program in Boston. 

First base coach Lynn Jones was encouraged by news about the prospects of regaining the sight in his eye, though he is "frustrated that it's going to take a little longer than he thought," Francona said. Jones seriously injured the eye in a household accident. Bill Hasselman continues to serve as the interim coach.