GABE KAPLER

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Six run third inning powers the Sox

July 26, 2004 ...  The revived Sox rolled up their third straight victory since Varitek introduced his leather mitt to A-Rod's face, this time obliterating the Orioles, 12-5, before a crowd of 42,113 thick at Camden Yards.

The mauling was no small feat since the Orioles had established themselves as even more dangerous regular-season rivals than the Yankees, outscoring the Sox, 46-24, in winning five of their six previous contests.

Old Sox or new Sox, things usually go better for them with Martinez on the mound. And though Martinez tweaked his right hip in the seventh inning and got little help from Terry Adams, who allowed both runners he inherited to score, the incumbent Sox ace rationed the Birds five runs on seven hits and a pair of walks to beat them for the first time in four starts this season.

The five Baltimore runs served as little more than a footnote since the Sox already had seized a 12-0 lead thanks in part to several rousing rallies. They struck for six runs in the third inning, four in the sixth, and two more in the seventh as every starter but Mueller either scored at least one run or knocked one in. The Sox scored all their runs without the benefit of a home run, which has been the prime staple of their offense. They entered the night leading the majors in July with 43 homers (the Rangers ranked second with 40). Gabe Kapler, batting ninth as he filled in for the injured Trot Nixon, ignited all three rallies and scored three times. Varitek, playing for the first time since The A-Rod Incident, knocked in three runs, and David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Kevin Millar each drove in two.

Thanks to the cakewalk, Francona was able to rest Ramirez in the sixth inning and Nomar Garciaparra in the seventh before he started making wholesale substitutions in the ninth. He also was able to give his bullpen horses - Alan Embree, Mike Timlin, and Keith Foulke - the night off, which he figured could help the Sox the next two nights.

Martinez, who held the Orioles scoreless until Miguel Tejada touched him for a two-run homer in the sixth, marked the triumph by recording his 2,557th career strikeout (fanning Larry Bigbie to end the fifth) to pass Jerry Koosman for 24th place all time. He surrendered another run in the seventh on a double by Javy Lopez and singles by Jerry Hairston and Bigbie before he gave way to Adams after 106 pitches. The rejuvenated Ramiro Mendoza chipped in by blanking the O's for the final two innings.

Orioles reliever Todd Williams escaped serious injury in the eighth when Gabe Kapler rifled a line drive off the back of his head, sending him sprawling to the mound. Williams left the field under his own power and was fine, according to Baltimore manager Lee Mazzilli.

For the first time in his Sox career, Millar received AL player of the week honors, which he shared with Baltimore's Miguel Tejada for the period ending Sunday. Millar led the league with a .583 batting average, six homers, 32 total bases, a 1.333 slugging percentage, and a .615 on-base percentage.