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CURT SCHILLING |
THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Curt Schilling wins his 20th
against the Rays
September 16, 2004 ... Curt Schilling became
baseball's first 20-game winner of the season by stifling the Rays amid an 11-4 rout at his new happy place in the Fens. He became the first Sox pitcher to win 20 games in his inaugural season in Boston since Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley went 20-8 in 1978.
Schilling reached the milestone by allowing the Rays four runs on eights hits over 7 2/3 innings as he avenged his only loss this season at Fenway, an 8-3 defeat to Tampa Bay August 3rd. In the process, he won a seventh straight start for the first time in his career. And as he left the mound,
he raised his cap to acknowledge a thunderous standing ovation led by principal owner John W. Henry in his field box.
The Sox celebrated Schilling's feat by stuffing lefthander Mark Hendrickson, the former NBA forward who started for the Rays, and an array of Tampa Bay relievers. Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon each homered and knocked in four runs to pace the attack, while Mark Bellhorn, Jason Varitek, and
Kevin Youkilis each drove in a run. Millar's two-run shot in the seventh inning was Boston's 200th homer of the season, marking the first time in franchise history the Sox have launched at least 200 homers in consecutive seasons (they slugged 238 last year). And Damon made it 201 as he
swatted a three-run shot to cap the game-breaking, five-run seventh.
Schilling, who allowed only one run while firing 89 pitches through seven innings, returned to the mound in the eighth even after the Sox surged to an 11-1 lead. But while Francona was willing to let Schilling try to finish his 30th start of the season, he relieved him after the Rays scored
three times in the eighth. Terry Adams recorded the final four outs for the Sox.
Schilling held the Rays hitless through the first three innings, issuing only a harmless walk to Tino Martinez with two out in the second. The walk was the first Schilling had allowed over six starts. The Rays mustered their first hit in the fourth inning,
when Julio Lugo doubled to left-center leading off.
The Sox activated lefthander Lenny DiNardo, who missed 64 games with a blistered middle finger and a pulled back muscle, from the 60-day disabled list. To make room, they designated infielder Tim Hummel for assignment. Hummel was claimed off waivers Sept. 3 from the Reds. The Sox also
announced that third baseman Earl Snyder, who was designated for assignment Sept. 9, was outrighted back to Triple A Pawtucket. He went unclaimed through the waiver process. Varitek was named the 38th winner of the BoSox Club's annual Man of the Year Award. Varitek will receive the
award Wednesday afternoon at the club's luncheon at the Newton Marriott. |
