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THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
The Red Sox rally with a 6-run inning
May 21, 2004 ...
Micheal Nakamura threw a lazy 2- and-2 curveball to Manny Ramirez. You don't leave it hanging knee-high over the plate to arguably the best righthanded hitter in the game. Not with the score tied, 5-5, in the eighth inning at Fenway Park and Keith Foulke warming up in the Red Sox bullpen. When it left Nakamura's hand, you could
see Ramirez's eyes light up. It looked like batting practice, felt like batting practice, as the ball was hit high over the Green Monster and into the night, giving the Sox a 6-5 lead. They scored five more runs in the inning to win comfortably, 11-5. Foulke warmed up but he sat down when the Sox put up a half-dozen. Lenny
DiNardo finished up in the ninth.
The Sox, who lost Thursday night to Tampa Bay when Derek Lowe was pounded in the finale of a seven-game road trip, rebounded in the first game of a 10-game homestand before 35,287 on a balmy night. Ramirez had gone 0 for 3 after a miserable 0 for 5 Thursday.
Nakamura had not allowed a run in six of his previous 10 outings and was fourth among American League rookies with 17 strikeouts. Righthanders were hitting just .231 against him, but Ramirez isn't your run-of-the-mill righthanded batter. After Ramirez's homer, Jason Varitek, who reached base four times,
was hit by a pitch, and after Kevin Millar doubled on an 0-and-2 pitch, rookie Kevin Youkilis walked for the second time to load them up for Pokey Reese. Reese (3 RBIs) laced a single to center, scoring Varitek and Gabe Kapler, who had run for Millar. Mark Bellhorn's fielder's choice ended up scoring two runs as shortstop Chris
Gomez, in an attempt to turn two, threw the ball into the Red Sox dugout. Ortiz, the ninth batter of the inning, followed with an RBI single.
The Sox, who have been plagued by poor defense all season, threw some leather around in the ninth as Bellhorn made a nice pickup of a grounder at second and Reese showed good range at shortstop, being saved by a dig at first base by Dave McCarty.
Even before Red Sox first baseman/designated hitter David Ortiz stepped to the podium at the .406 Club yesterday, there was a slap on the back and a "very good" from general manager Theo Epstein, who announced that Ortiz had been signed to a two-year contract extension
with a club option for 2007. According to the Associated Press, Ortiz, who is making nearly $4.6 million this season, will earn $5.25 million next year and $6.5 million in 2006. If the option is picked up, he would receive $7.75 million in 2007, or he could be bought out for $750,000.
After the Red Sox placed reliever Scott Williamson on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, the Sox yesterday recalled righthander Anastacio Martinez from Pawtucket, where he was 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 relief appearances. He struck out 27 in 24 2/3
innings, including 13 strikeouts with no walks in five innings over his last two appearances.
Nomar Garciaparra conferred with Francona and general manager Theo Epstein before last night's game about a schedule for next week. While heading to Pawtucket for a rehab assignment remains a possibility, Francona said the shortstop will hang around for at least the
next three days and continue his hitting and fielding program while also facing live pitching over the weekend.
Tender situation Bill Mueller's MRI showed the third baseman has mild patellar tendonitis in his right knee and is considered day- to-day, according to Dr. Bill Morgan. |
