 |
PEDRO MARTINEZ &
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA |
THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Pedro & Nomar team up
against the Angels
July 16, 2004 ...
The Red Sox beat the Angels, 4-2, but may lose slugger David Ortiz for a few games. Ortiz was called out on strikes leading off the seventh and got ejected after arguing the call with plate umpire Matt Hollowell. Ortiz lunged at the umpire after being ejected and was blocked by Sox manager Terry Francona. Batting
coach Ron Jackson also helped restrain Ortiz and the All-Star slugger was reluctantly steered off the field. Once in the dugout, Ortiz grabbed a pair of bats and flung them in the direction of home plate, where umpires Bill Hohn (crew chief) and Mark Carlson were standing. The bats narrowly missed the umpires and Ortiz likely
will be suspended for his actions.
The Ortiz fireworks somewhat overshadowed a strong performance from Pedro Martinez (six innings, two runs, eight strikeouts) and solo home runs by Nomar Garciaparra and Gabe Kapler as the Red Sox beat the Angels for the first time in four meetings. Four members of the Boston bullpen
pitched shutout ball over the final three innings and Keith Foulke picked up the save with a 1-2- 3 ninth, aided by a sensational catch in left by Kapler.
Starting on eight days' rest, Martinez was going for his 10th win. He was buoyant in the aftermath of his annual midsummer vacation in the Dominican Republic and eager to reclaim his place as ace of the pitching staff. Garciaparra staked Martinez to a lead with a first-pitch, homer off
Kelvim Escobar to start the second inning. It was the fifth homer of the season for Garciaparra, who was in the cleanup spot because Manny Ramirez was on the bench with tightness in his left hamstring. (Ramirez pinch hit in the ninth and dumped a single into left center.)
Martinez was throwing harder than he has for most of this season, regularly clocking near the mid-90s on the radar gun. He threw 53 pitches in the first three innings allowing one hit and walked two.
Ortiz's ejection highlighted the seventh. Kapler's homer made it 4-2 in the eighth. The Sox rode home on the strength of Curtis Leskanic, Embree, Mike Timlin, and Keith Foulke out of the bullpen.
The Chicago Cubs, who would like a big run producer for the stretch drive, remain hopeful of trading for Nomar Garciaparra, but feel their chances of acquiring the Red Sox shortstop are "50-50," according to a major league executive with direct knowledge of the talks between the clubs.
The last several days the Red Sox have attempted to strike a deal with Seattle for shortstop Rich Aurilia, but it appeared
today Aurilia, who was designated for assignment last week, will wind up with the Padres. Aurilia's preference was to return to the National League and remain on the
West Coast. |
