THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The Sox look sleepy in Seattle

September 9, 2004 ...  The Sox seemed to step in it as they rudely interrupted their run of sensational defense since their blockbuster trade July 31 and bowed to the Mariners, 7-1, before 29,656 at Safeco Field.

With the sweep in New York and the defeat in Seattle, the Sox slipped from 2 games to 3 1/2 behind the Yankees with 23 to play. However, they maintained their five-game edge in the wild-card race over the Angels, 5-4 losers to the Blue Jays.

As much as the Sox fell victim to their own deficiencies, they were mystified by Bobby Madritsch. The lefthander blanked the Sox on five hits and three walks over eight innings while Wakefield struggled nearly as much as his defense.

Wakefield, who hurt his cause by committing a costly throwing error in the first inning, surrendered seven runs (two earned) on seven hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen over 4 2/3 innings. He fell to 11-9 in trying to bounce back from allowing eight runs in an 8-6 loss to the Rangers last weekend.

The Sox, who had not lost by more than three runs in 28 games since August 9th, reached third base only twice against Madritsch. The lefty also held the heart of the Sox order - Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Kevin Millar - hitless as he fired a career-high 126 pitches. The only Sox batter to collect two hits against Madritsch was Mark Bellhorn, who doubled and singled as he reached safely in his 22d straight game. Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mirabelli, and Bill Mueller mustered the only other hits off Madritsch, all singles. The Sox scored their lone run on Cabrera's solo shot off reliever Scott Atchison with one out in the ninth.

Of the three Sox losses over the last 23 games, Wakefield has been on the mound for two. The other came at the hands of Toronto's Ted Lilly, who outdueled Pedro Martinez Aug. 23 with a three-hit shutout. The blowout unfolded while Ichiro Suzuki chased George Sisler's 84-year-old season hit record (257). Suzuki went 2 for 4 with a walk to close within 28 hits of Sisler.

One of the ironies of Boston's ineptitude in the field was that Seattle took the unusual step of holding an extra practice before the game for the pitchers. But Francona saw no reason for dismay over the defensive lapses. The Sox allowed the five unearned runs after surrendering only seven over the previous 35 games. Manny Ramirez's error was the most glaring. Playing in against Wilson, Ramirez needed to cover a good deal of ground to reach the ball on the warning track in left-center before it glanced off his glove.

Scott Williamson joined the ranks of medical marvels last night when the Red Sox activated him from the disabled list with the hope the once-dominating setup man can help them win the American League East and much more.  Williamson held batters to an .097 average while posting a 1.25 ERA over 21 appearances before he landed on the DL July 1st, for the second time this season with an injured right elbow. Doctors told him he may need a second Tommy John transplant surgery, a career- threatening procedure. But Williamson pressed for additional tests until his medical team determined his elbow was healthy enough for him to try to overcome considerable odds and pitch again.