BRET BOONE

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Seattle comes back to sink the Red Sox

July 19, 2004 ...  An 8-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners on an 11th-inning grand slam off Sox reliever Curtis Leskanic by Bret Boone, playing for the only team in the major leagues that hadn't hit a grand slam this season, after Sox closer Keith Foulke gave up two home runs in the bottom of the ninth, extracted a pain almost beyond words.

Foulke had only given up two home runs in a regular-season game three times in his career, only once since his rookie season of 1997, and that was against Tampa Bay on April 28, 1999, more than five years ago. But he was done in last night by a Mariner newcomer, catcher Miguel Olivo, and an ancient Mariner, 41-year-old Edgar Martinez, who had inflicted a similar blow on Foulke in a playoff game four years ago. Olivo homered with one out in the ninth to make it 4-3. One batter later, it was anything but OK. Martinez, who had beaten Foulke with a 10th-inning home run in the 2000 playoffs when Foulke was still with the White Sox, came up as a pinch-hitter and drove a tying blast into the right-center field seats. Foulke survived a two-on, two-out 10th, but Leskanic gave up an infield hit to Olivo to open the 11th, and walked Dave Hansen, who was attempting to bunt. Ichiro Suzuki succeeded in bunting the runners over, and after an intentional walk to Randy Winn, Boone drove a 0-1 pitch from Leskanic over the left-field fence.

Manny Ramirez, playing left field for the first time in over a week, didn't move when Boone connected. For a few long moments afterward, Francona, Curt Schilling and Kevin Millar hung on the dugout railing, looking straight ahead, saying nothing.

KEITH FOULKE

Ramirez's return to the Red Sox lineup may have been disappointing to soap opera fans, but for much of the evening it was even more of a letdown for Sox fans who thought Manny's dancing hammies might put a little extra kick in the Boston offense. No one had a greater reason to feel deflated than Boston starter Arroyo, who put up the kind of strikeout numbers worthy of a Schilling or a Martinez but found himself in no better than a draw for seven innings because of a 45-foot groundball that kicked off his leg into shallow right field for a tying double.

Arroyo allowed just three hits, one the ball hit by Boone that took a crazy bounce into the outfield for the weird double in the sixth that scored Winn, who had lined a more conventional two-base hit to right and moved to third on a wild pitch. But despite a dozen strikeouts by Arroyo through seven - a season high in whiffs for any Sox pitcher - the Sox couldn't put away the last-place Mariners, who have replaced such familiar names as Martinez and Olerud with guys named Bucky and Leone (not Sierra).

The Sox lost second baseman Pokey Reese in the third inning when he came out with a strained muscle in his right rib cage.

Still no news on Ortiz's possible suspension in the wake of Friday's bat-tossing incident in Anaheim. Francona said he had not been in contact with the commissioner's office regarding the incident.  Terry Francona said he may not know until just before Thursday's doubleheader whether Tim Wakefield will be able to pitch against the Orioles in Fenway Park. The knuckleballer is recovering from being struck in the back of the right shoulder by a line drive off the bat of Angels catcher Jose Molina.