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THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE
Derek Lowe pitches the Sox past the Yankees
July 25, 2004 ...
The Red Sox, 9-6 winners over the Yankees tonight, embarked happily on a four-city, 12-game road trip after beating the Yankees two games out of three in a memorable series the day before the start of the Democratic National Convention.
At least Francona knows he might have a confident Derek Lowe back after he pitched 6 2/3 innings of good baseball under pressure-packed circumstances. While the Sox pounded Jose Contreras for six runs in the first two innings, Lowe, who overcame a 2-0 deficit to hold the Yankees scoreless
before departing with two outs in the seventh, two runners on and a 9-2 lead.
Though he was charged with four runs, only two were earned as reliever Mike Timlin allowed a grand slam to Hideki Matsui in the seventh that made the game interesting. Lowe threw 119 pitches before giving way to Timlin, who surrendered the Matsui bomb after walking Jorge Posada.
The Sox escaped a major crisis in the eighth when the fans got a glimpse of new reliever Terry Adams, who started well by striking out Tony Clark but walked Enrique Wilson and allowed a double to Kenny Lofton. That forced Francona to use Keith Foulke to face Derek Jeter.
In the most bizarre play of the game, Jeter hit a liner off Foulke's body and catcher Doug Mirabelli threw to first and hit Jeter in the back. Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt determined Jeter was running inside the baseline, ruled him out, and forced Wilson to return to third base.
Foulke, examined by trainer Jim Rowe before resuming, got Gary Sheffield to line out to left to escape the jam.
The Sox crushed Yankees pitching for 13 hits, including three homers (Johnny Damon, Mark Bellhorn, and Kevin Millar), the big blow a three-run Pesky's Pole shot by Damon in the second inning. Millar, with three hits (and four RBIs) paced the Sox assault. Millar was the star of the homestand,
going 14 for 20, and 10 for 13 against the Yankees with four homers and eight RBIs.
Nixon went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday when his troublesome left quad stiffened after Saturday's game. He said the injury is not related to the third-inning brawl with the Yankees Saturday. Dr. William Morgan downplayed Nixon's health, indicating he was being rested for
precautionary reasons, but the problem seems beyond precaution. The Sox right fielder may be looking at a long rest. Nixon said he had an MRI yesterday morning that showed blood and fluid buildup and what he called a "Grade 2 tear."
Jason Varitek injured his right wrist in the brawl and was out of the lineup last night. He's considered day-to-day. |
