A TEAM "FIT TO BE TIED"
Graffanino brings it home for the Sox

August 8, 2005 ... Not only Tony Graffanino break open a tie game with a three-run homer in the fifth inning, he also energized the Red Sox on the basepaths, scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth and hustling to score from second on a two-run infield single by Johnny Damon in the seventh. Graffanino, the No. 8 hitter, had been walked intentionally in that seventh inning when the Sox added three insurance runs on their way to an 11-6 victory over the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.

Graffanino, who knocked in four runs with three hits and scored three runs, looks to be Theo Epstein's top find of the season since replacing Mark Bellhorn, who is currently on rehab assignment in Pawtucket. After Graffanino gave the Sox an 8-5 lead with his three-run homer in the fifth, the Sox put it away with three runs in the seventh. Jason Varitek started the inning by reaching on Alfonso Soriano's error. After Kevin Millar singled off the railing down the left-field line, Gabe Kapler knocked into a double play. Graffanino was walked intentionally and stole second. Alex Cora walked to lead the bases, and Damon beat out an infield hit that scored two runs. Cora then scored when Damon stole second and catcher Rod Barajas threw the ball into the outfield.

It was a back-and-forth game, 5-5 through 4 1/2 innings when Graffanino opened it up with his three-run homer over the left- center field wall off reliever Steve Karsay, two rows into the Monster Seats, with Millar (single) and Robert Petagine (single on a hit-and-run) aboard. It was the fourth home run of the season for the 33-year-old second baseman, but his first with the Red Sox. He was making his 14th start at second base since being acquired from the Royals for Chip Ambres on July 20.

The Sox sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, and Damon made two outs, a liner to center for the first out and a liner to right for the third. In between, the Sox scored four times to take the lead. David Ortiz smoked his 26th homer with Edgar Renteria (single) aboard. His shot on a 1-and-1 pitch was lined deep into the right- field stands. Rodriguez seemed to be shell-shocked, walking the next two batters, Manny Ramirez and Varitek, before retiring Millar on a first-pitch liner to left.

But Robert Petagine singled sharply to center, knocking in Ramirez with the tying run. Graffanino followed with a one-hopper off Rodriguez's right shoulder that bounded into short right field for a hit that scored Varitek. No. 9 hitter Cora, a late insertion in the lineup at third base after Bill Mueller complained of back spasms, singled to center to load the bases, and that's when Rodriguez got the hook. James Baldwin came on and got Damon to end the inning.

Miller didn't exactly inspire confidence with another rough first inning; opponents are hitting .328 against him in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Dave Dellucci doubled off the wall and quickly scored on Michael Young's single to right. After Mark Teixeira walked, Hank Blalock doubled to left, knocking in the second run. Soriano's grounder to first made it a 3-0 lead.

After the Rangers gave up the lead in the first, they tied it in the second. With two on and two outs, Teixeira's routine grounder scooted between Petagine's legs, allowing Dellucci to score. Miller's pitch count was building up rapidly, though he held a 5- 4 lead heading into the fifth. The Sox scored the go-ahead run in the fourth on a bases-loaded wild pitch. It didn't get far away from Barajas, but Graffanino made a heads-up play and ran hard to beat the throw from Barajas to Baldwin.

Ortiz then walked to reload the bases, but a golden opportunity to blow the game open was lost when Manny Ramirez grounded into a 4-3 double play. The Sox argued that Soriano missed the tag on Ortiz, but umpire Joe Brinkman would have none of it, even though the replay seemed to show that Soriano missed the tag by at least a foot.

The two highest-scoring teams in the American League combined for eight runs in the first two innings, and Sox starter Wade Miller lasted only 4 1/3 innings, by which time his pitch count reached 104. Terry Francona's hook proved a good thing as reliever Jeremy Gonzalez got out of fifth by inducing a double play grounder with two on and one out to keep the game tied at 5-5. Gonzalez, the winning pitcher, worked 2 2/3 innings and allowed only two hits, keeping the Sox in the game while the offense was able to pull away.

Miller never had a clean inning, though he had a chance to get out of the fifth with the lead and a chance for the win. He allowed a leadoff double to Phil Nevin, and with first and third and one out, Barajas ended Miller's night on his 104th pitch with a single to right, scoring the fifth and tying run. Miller fared far better than Texas starter Ricardo Rodriguez, who was given a 3-0 lead in the first but lasted only 2/ 3 of an inning and left trailing, 4-3.