HR #9

A SAD END TO A RECORD SEASON
Manny's HR brings the Sox back

April 25, 2006 ... The game featured Curt Schilling (no decision, 4-0, 2.60 ERA) throwing a stunning 133 pitches.  It was the most Schilling had thrown since a complete-game loss for Philadelphia July 7, 2000, when he unleashed 135 (and when was managed by Terry Francona). It was within 15 of his career high of 148. Schilling began the evening with 5-0 in sight in the month of April, an accomplishment that has only two precedents in the 105 previous seasons of Red Sox baseball (Martinez in 2000, and Babe Ruth in 1917).

Schilling struck out the side in the first, fanning Grady Sizemore (splitter, 84 miles per hour), Jason Michaels (94, fastball), and Jhonny Peralta (86, split), all swinging. The Sox then gave him a hand in a two-run second inning in which Jake Westbrook would rue his pitching and fielding.

Westbrook issued Jason Varitek a leadoff walk, the first of six walks he'd issue, tying a career high. Mike Lowell then singled. Westbrook then got Willie Harris to ground to the right side, for what had the makings of a 3-6-1 double play. But Westbrook dropped the relay, giving the Sox runners on the corners with one out. Alex Gonzalez then walked, loading the bases. It's a situation the Sox have found mighty difficult early this season. Entering tonight, they were just 6 for 24 with three walks and nine RBIs the bases loaded. Kevin Youkilis made it 6 for 25 by striking out swinging, but Mark Loretta, who has been in an awful slump (11 for 64, .172), singled to center, plating Varitek and Harris for a 2-0 lead.

The Indians quickly tied it, in the bottom of the inning. After a Victor Martinez walk, Ben Broussard turned on a 1-and-1 pitch at 89 m.p.h. (it looked like a hanging splitter) and hit it out to right, tying matters at 2-2. The Indians hung up another 2-spot in the third, coming within a homer of hitting for the cycle. Sizemore tripled over Trot Nixon's head in right with one out. Michaels singled him in for a 3-2 lead, and Travis Hafner, with two outs and the count 0- and-2, hit a ringing double to right center, elevating Cleveland's lead to 4-2.

Youkilis's sacrifice fly in the sixth pulled the Sox within 4-3. Ortiz then led off the seventh against former Sox reliever Scott Sauerbeck. Ortiz went up hacking and drove the first pitch he saw 412 feet into the stands in right. Sox 4, Indians 4, on Ortiz's ninth homer of April, tying Manny Ramirez's club record.

In eight innings, Guillermo Mota, whose poor showing in a physical held up the deal that brought Coco Crisp to Boston, had allowed only one unearned run this year. The game was tied, 4-4, when he entered in the seventh.  He walked Ramirez, who advanced to second on Varitek's second hit of the night, and scored on Mike Lowell's third single of the evening, for a 5-4 lead.

That positioned Schilling for the win. He'd thrown 109 pitches through six innings, and the bullpen was rested, with no game Monday. But, somewhat oddly, he came back out. Casey Blake, the No. 9 hitter, doubled on Schilling's 111th pitch. Sizemore laced Schilling's 117th to left center, tying the game at 5-5 and all but assuring that Schilling wouldn't get the win. He then locked into a lengthy battle with Michaels. The count ran full and the at-bat stretched to 10 pitches when Michaels, on Schilling's 126th pitch, with the runner off, lined one at Schilling. He snagged it and doubled Sizemore off. On 2-and-2 to the next hitter, Peralta, Schilling reached back and threw his 132d pitch at 96 m.p.h. It was a ball, and he walked Peralta. Finally, Francona came out. In came Foulke, who calmly fanned Hafner.

After Mota walked David Ortiz intentionally, with a man on second and two outs in the eighth, Manny Ramirez delivered the decisive blow, a three-run opposite-field homer, that sent the Sox on the way to an 8-6 win.  Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his ninth save.