NOMAR GARCIAPARRA

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
No more Nomar ...
Doug Mientkiewicz, Dave Roberts
& Orlando Cabrera traded
to the  Red Sox

July 31, 2004 ... He was the face of the Red Sox, a superstar in the mold of the legendary Ted Williams whose indelible achievements will endure in the memories of generations of New Englanders. And now he is gone.

In one of the most momentous transactions in the modern annals of the 103-year-old franchise, the Sox yesterday ended their decade long relationship with Nomar Garciaparra, dispatching the two-time American League batting champion to the Chicago Cubs in a four-team deal aimed at shoring up Boston's flawed defense.

Under the multi-pronged deal, the Sox sent the shortstop to the Cubs with Single A outfield prospect Matt Murton and received two former Gold Glovers, shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins. Mientkiewicz immediately switched uniforms and started at first base last night for the Sox against his former team.

Outfielder Dave Roberts was acquired from the Dodgers for Triple A outfielder Henri Stanley.

Larry Lucchino and Theo Epstein stated that they had little choice but to trade Garciaparra after he told team trainers and manager Terry Francona last week that he would have to miss "significant time" this month because of the injury.

Derek Lowe took a 4-4 deadlock into the eighth inning against the Twins after surrendering a tying home run to Michael Cuddyer in the seventh. But Alan Embree was unable to support Lowe as he let Jacque Jones jolt a 92-mile-an-hour fastball with one out in in the eighth inning for a decisive home run as the Twins prevailed, 5-4, before 40,283 at the Metrodome.

Lowe, who general manager Theo Epstein predicted would be the biggest beneficiary of the Sox acquiring two former Gold Glovers (first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins and shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Expos), surrendered four runs on eight hits and three walks before Embree took the loss, falling to 2-2.

DEREK LOWE

The Sox had a chance to prevent the defeat in the ninth inning when the newest member of the team, Mientkiewicz, singled leading off against his former teammate, closer Joe Nathan. But the Sox, who were keenly aware that Nathan had converted 28 of 29 save chances, gambled that Gabe Kapler, running for Mientkiewicz, could steal second and set up a scoring opportunity.  Kapler said he got a good jump on the pitch. But catcher Henry Blanco gunned him down.

The Sox mustered a final opportunity when Bill Mueller laced a two-out single to right field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. But Nathan fanned Kevin Youkilis on a 98-m.p.h. heater to preserve the victory and force a split of the first two games of the series. Pedro Martinez will try to clinch the series for the Sox today when he goes against Twins ace Johan Santana.

As for Lowe, he handled the Twins fairly well.