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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE August 6, 2004 ... The Sox were just good enough to lose as they succumbed to the Tigers, 4-3, in a punchless performance before a sellout crowd of 40,674 at Comerica Park. Each of their last four defeats have come by one run. In bowing to the Tigers, the Sox generated 14 base runners but scored only three times as they went 4 for 15 with runners on base and 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped the Sox to 7-15 in one-run games. They have posted fewer one-run victories than any team in the majors but the Diamondbacks (six). Last year, the Sox led the American League with 26 one-run victories. Derek Lowe dropped to 9-10 as he allowed four runs on nine hits and a pair of walks over seven innings. It was little consolation that he extended the streak of Sox starters pitching at least seven innings to eight games. He was unable to protect a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning or maintain a 3-3 deadlock in the sixth. But the Sox may have irreparably harmed themselves by falling short so often in the early innings. They repeatedly struggled to sustain rallies, as they did in the fourth inning after Varitek tripled and scored on Kevin Millar's single. Moments later, third base coach Dale Sveum waved home Doug Mientkiewicz from first on Bill Mueller's two-out double to the left-field corner, and Carlos Guillen's two-hop relay to the plate easily beat Mientkiewicz for the final out. Left fielder Rondell White briefly bobbled the ball, contributing to Sveum's decision to send Mientkiewicz. The play seemed to give the Tigers some momentum as they promptly struck for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Former Northeastern star Carlos Pena, who was batting .200 (2 for 10) with the bases loaded, provided the big hit, a bases-loaded, two-run single. Varitek recouped a run with his shot off Detroit starter Mike Maroth leading off the sixth. And Kevin Youkilis forced the 3-3 tie by waging an eight-pitch at-bat against Roberto Novoa to draw a two out, bases-loaded walk. The Sox could no more, though, as Cabrera fanned on three pitches, swinging wildly at a ball wide of the plate for the third strike. But the Tigers lurched ahead on the first three pitches from Lowe in the bottom of the sixth as Dimitri Young doubled and scored on Guillen's single for the decisive run. Too bad for the Sox they never will. They went down in order over the final three innings against a trio of relievers, including Ugueth Urbina, who worked the ninth for his 18th save. The Red Sox acquired lefthander Mike Myers from the Mariners for a player to be named or cash considerations. The acquisition is unlikely to cost the Sox more than the $20,000 cost of a waiver claim. |
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