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THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The Red Sox come home
and silence Detroit
August 26, 2004 ... The surging Sox returned triumphantly to the Hub and cinched their ninth win in 10 tries by stifling the Tigers, 4-1, before 35,153 at Fenway Park.
The hard-luck Bronson Arroyo, who has pitched far better than his record indicates, improved to 7-9 with a 4.07 ERA, third best to Curt Schilling (3.38) and Pedro Martinez (3.78) among Sox starters. With eight strikeouts, Arroyo increased his total to 117, also third best on the staff to
Martinez (180) and Schilling (158).
The Sox, who had averaged nearly seven runs a game in 17 outings since August 8th, struggled a bit at the plate but found ways to win nonetheless. They did it with some timely offense, including some small ball that has become more characteristic of the realigned Sox. The Sox cashed in on
RBIs from Roberts, David Ortiz, and Mark Bellhorn, and Kevin Millar put a ball in play (grounding into a double play) to help produce another run. Damon, Bellhorn, Ortiz, and Bill Mueller contributed two hits apiece. Cabrera singled to extend his season-high hitting streak to 11 games, a
span in which he has hit .413. And Roberts made a strong impression, getting a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd after he sacrificed to advance Mueller and Mirabelli into scoring position in the eighth inning to set up the final run for the Sox.
The bullpen's star of the week, Mike Timlin, made another crucial contribution after he succeeded Arroyo in the eighth inning with one out, Detroit's Bobby Higginson on second base, and the Sox leading, 3-1. Timlin first blew a third strike past the dangerous Ivan Rodriguez.
Mirabelli may have helped by letting Rodriguez believe he was setting up for a pitch inside before shifting at the last second to the outer half of the plate. The switch appeared to throw Rodriguez off. Timlin then got Dmitri Young to line out to left to strand Higginson, who had doubled to
left. At that, the Sox rallied for a run in the bottom of the eighth before Keith Foulke mowed down the Tigers in order in the ninth for his 24th save.
As it turned out, the Tigers scored their only run on a bizarre play in the third inning. After Omar Infante doubled to the left- field corner leading off and took third when Higginson flied to right, Mirabelli tried to make something happen with Rodriguez at the plate and Arroyo protecting
a 1-0 lead. Mirabelli tried to pick off Infante at third, but his throw caromed off Rodriguez's bat and sailed over Mueller at third for an error, allowing Infante to score easily.
Trot Nixon, whose torn left quadriceps seriously threatened to end his season, has exceeded expectations so much in his recovery that he resumed running the bases and taking batting practice before the game. He indicated he expected to return in time to help the Sox down the stretch.
Waiting in the wings with Nixon are Pokey Reese (strained right oblique), Kevin Youkilis (bruised right ankle bone), David McCarty (cyst in right wrist), and Ellis Burks (left knee surgery). Even Scott Williamson (right elbow), once considered lost for the season, continued throwing in the
hope he can return next month. McCarty began a rehab assignment last night for Triple A Pawtucket (he was 1 for 2 with a walk, was hit by a pitch, and scored in the PawSox' 4-2 victory over Syracuse) and Nixon hopes to follow McCarty before the PawSox end their regular season Sept. 6. |
