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SKYDOME |
THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The Blue Jays rally
and beat
Curt Schilling
April 22, 2004 ... By the end of the night tonight, the Sox were road kill as the Jays obliterated a 3-1
deficit by overrunning Curt Schilling for six runs in the seventh and eighth innings in a stunning 7-3 victory before 16,480 at SkyDome. Schilling's bleakest hour in his first month with the Sox unfolded amid a 3-3 deadlock with two outs in the eighth when Chris Gomez rocked him for a game-breaking grand slam. Schilling
was lifted only after he allowed eight of the last 11 batters he faced to reach base.
The Sox did Schilling few favors by leaving 13 runners on base and batting .077 (1 for 13) with runners in scoring position.
In all, the Jays touched Schilling for a walk and 13 hits, one shy of his career high in a start, as he fired 123 pitches over 7 2/ 3 innings. His trouble began in earnest with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh inning when the Jays strung together four
straight hits, a triple by Orlando Hudson and singles by Gomez, Howie Clark, and Frank Catalanotto, to produce two runs and force a 3-3 tie.
Schilling had thrown 104 pitches through seven innings when Francona decided to send him out in the eighth. Everyone in the bullpen was available except Keith Foulke and Alan Embree, whose offers to pitch if needed were declined by the manager. The eighth
inning opened with Carlos Delgado and Eric Hinske sandwiching singles around a Josh Phelps strikeout. Schilling then retired Kevin Cash on a popup before the switch-hitting Hudson strode to the plate. Hudson entered the game batting .159 against lefties and .293 against righties in his
career. Schilling just missed on a 3-and-2 pitch and walked Hudson, loading the bases with two outs. Francona said Schilling made a "quality" pitch on 3-and-2, reinforcing the manager's decision to stick with him. Then came Gomez, who whacked a hanging splitter on a 1-and-1 count
over the left-field fence for his first career slam.
Jason Varitek credited Schilling with keeping the Sox in the game. They left runners on base in every inning and stranded seven runners in scoring position.
Add bullpen catcher Dana Levangie to the injured list. Levangie's right arm was placed in a cast for three weeks to try to heal a frayed tendon. The former Sox farmhand, who played for Whitman-Hanson High School and American International College, continues to work in
the pen with help from coach Euclides Rojas. |
