 |
|
DEREK LOWE |
THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Derek Lowe tames the Tigers
August 27, 2004 ... The Red Sox played flawlessly behind Derek Lowe, helping him lead the Sox to their
10th victory in 11 games by edging the Tigers, 5-3, before 35,018 at Fenway Park. Lowe, who allowed three runs over a season-high eight innings and improved to 12-10 with a 5.22 ERA, has gone 3-1 since the trades as he approaches free agency.
The victory may prove costly, at least in the short run, as Manny Ramirez fouled a ball off his left knee, forcing him out of the game after the fourth inning. X-rays were negative and he was listed as day to day with a contusion. The Sox also played without their regular third basemen, Bill
Mueller, who was sidelined with a sore right ankle and foot, and the first baseman, Mientkiewicz, who nursed a sprained left shoulder. What's more, they played without closer Keith Foulke, whose back stiffened before the game.
Lowe helped the Sox improve to 18-7 in August by scattering seven hits, striking out seven, and not allowing a walk for a second straight start.
With Foulke out, the bullpen created some tension in the ninth when Timlin opened the inning by allowing the Tigers to put runners at the corners on a double high off the Green Monster by Dmitri Young and single to center by Carlos Pena. After Timlin fanned Craig Monroe, Embree was summoned
and struck out pinch hitter Marcus Thames before Sox manager Terry Francona summoned Leskanic to record the final out. Leskanic responded by getting Brandon Inge to fly to right as he picked up his first save with the Sox. A former closer for the Brewers, Leskanic was asked if returning to
the role was as easy as learning to ride a bike again.
The Sox largely could thank solid starting pitching for their 10-1 run, but Damon also deserved some credit since he has started the first inning in nine of the 11 games by reaching safely, as he did last night. By scoring twice last night in the first inning, the Sox made it six games out
of the 11 in which they have scored in the first. Ricky Gutierrez, who filled in at second base while Mark Bellhorn took over at third for Mueller, was a surprise star for the Sox, going 3 for 4 with a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Varitek's return also helped as
he reached base three times and ably handled Lowe, his longtime batterymate.
Nor did Lowe, who made the most of the runs the Sox managed to string together. Other than the Tigers scratching up a run in the first inning, Lowe was hurt only by Monroe's two-run shot over the camera stand in center field in the seventh inning.
Keith Foulke continues to wear a patch of an American flag on his cap and a Lance Armstrong yellow "Live Strong" Nike band on his right wrist, but only in practice. MLB last month ordered Foulke to stop wearing the flag patch during games. Then he was told to remove the wristband two weeks
ago during an appearance against the White Sox in Chicago. Foulke, whose father served in the Air Force, wears the flag patch to honor the troops serving overseas and the wristband to promote the fight against cancer. |
