 |
|
BILL MUELLER |
THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The Red Sox sweep away the Angels
September 2, 2004 ... All but defying baseball logic, the Sox won for the ninth straight time and for the
15th time in 16 tries as they completed a stunning, three-game sweep of the Angels, 4-3, before 35,050 at Fenway Park. Derek Lowe led the way as he went 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk in improving to 6-1 since the Angels whacked him around July 15 in Anaheim, Calif.
The victory vaulted the Sox 4 1/2 games ahead of the Angels and six games ahead of the Rangers in the wild-card race. The Sox continued to hover 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Sox, whose nine-game streak is the longest active run in the majors, also won a 10th
straight game at home for the first time since July 25, 1993.
On a night when David Ortiz was ailing (sore right shoulder) and Manny Ramirez was hitless, Lowe did his part while the Sox overcame their general futility in the clutch thanks to some timely hitting by the relatively unheralded players at the top and bottom of their lineup. The first two
and last two batters in the Sox' lineup went a combined 8 for 15, scoring three of the team's four runs and knocking in three. The fifth batter in the order, Kevin Millar, doubled to knock in the other run.
The 1-2 tandem the top of the order - Damon and Mark Bellhorn - continued to lead the way as the Sox have scored more runs (213) from the top two spots in the order than any team in the American League. Damon and Bellhorn showed why, as Damon went 3 for 4 with a walk, scored a run, and
knocked one in, and Bellhorn went 2 for 4 with a walk.
With Bill Mueller, the defending AL batting champ, anchoring the eighth spot, the Sox lead the league in production in several categories, including runs (83), from the eight-hole. And Mueller kept it rolling by homering and launching a sacrifice fly for a pair of RBIs. Thanks to the likes
of Roberts, who doubled twice and scored each time, the Sox also lead the league in runs (71) from the ninth spot in the lineup.
The Sox also got crucial relief as Mike Myers retired a batter in the eighth before Foulke recorded the final four outs to convert his 12th straight save opportunity.
|
|
|
.jpg) |
|
DENNIS ECKERSLEY |
The Sox honored Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley before the game, first with a video tribute then with principal owner John W. Henry, president and CEO Larry Lucchino, and chairman Tom Werner presenting the former Sox pitcher with a plaque. Eckersley also tossed a ceremonial first pitch.
At long last, Gabe Kapler and Trot Nixon presented their appeals of the three-game suspensions for the July 24 bench-clearing incident with the Yankees. Kapler said he was satisfied with the hearing conducted at Fenway Park by Major League Baseball officials, including John McHale, the
executive vice president for administration, and discipline chief Bob Watson. Kapler and Nixon were represented by a union lawyer.
As for Nixon, he went 0 for 3 batting leadoff and played five innings in right field in Pawtucket's 9-3 win over Rochester. |
