SAMMY SOSA

A POWERFUL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Julian Tavarez gets knocked around in Texas

April 7, 2007 ... With tonight's 8-4 loss to the Texas Rangers, Julian Tavarez, thrilled to begin his second season with the Sox as a starting pitcher after beginning 2006 on the suspended list for throwing a spring training nutty, didn't become visibly agitated when provoked.  But neither was he up to the task of shaking off the effects of J.D. Drew's two-base error in the third that allowed Michael Young to circle the bases after his RBI double skipped past the new Sox right fielder, who compounded his failure to glove the ball with a misdirected throw into the infield.

A harsher scorer might have assessed two errors on the play, which became the tipping point of a night that went from bad to worse for Tavarez and the Sox. Tavarez, who saw an early 2-0 lead evaporate on the Drew misplay, subsequently loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, then watched his stationary left fielder, Manny Ramirez, play a line drive by Nelson Cruz that nearly hit him in the shoelaces into a two-run single. The Rangers led, 4-2. Tavarez, who had escaped a bases-loaded jam the inning before, wore himself out in that 36-pitch inning and was gone after the fourth.  

The Sox crept within a run in the sixth on Jason Varitek's run-scoring double, but the bullpen squandered any chance of taking Tavarez off the hook during a four-run Rangers uprising in the bottom of the inning.

Sammy Sosa, had retreated to his native Dominican Republic last year after disappointing Congress and then the Baltimore Orioles with his sorry act, first at the steroid hearings and then on the field. But tonight he showed there may yet be some life left in his 38-year-old swing by launching a 409-foot home run into the center-field seats off Romero with a man aboard.  The home run was No. 589 of Sosa's career (he ranks fifth on the all-time list, behind Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays) but his first in 20 months. Sosa last connected Aug. 4, 2005, a span of 18 games and 66 at-bats.

J.C. Romero's relief appearance, meanwhile, was his first five-alarm disaster for the Red Sox after three stellar outings. Romero gave up hits to all five batters he faced. It went like this: an RBI single to Mark Teixeira that scored Jerry Hairston Jr., who had doubled off Kyle Snyder to open the inning, HR by Sosa, single by Hank Blalock, single by Brad Wilkerson, Nelson Cruz RBI infield hit off Dustin Pedroia's glove. Romero was an equal-opportunity hit distributor: one by a switch hitter, two by righties, two by lefties.

The chill of playing in the coldest game in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington deepened further when Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis came up lame running to first on his seventh-inning liner. Youkilis, who had reached base on each of his first three trips, including a first-inning single after which he came around to score on Drew's bloop single, was replaced in the bottom of the inning by Eric Hinske.

The Sox might have inflicted more damage on Rangers starter Kevin Millwood, but Ramirez was erased at third trying to take an extra base on Drew's single, left fielder Wilkerson cutting him down. The Sox added another run in the second, despite two terrific defensive plays by the Texans. Mike Lowell drew a walk to open the inning. Varitek followed with a smash that first baseman Teixeira gloved with a diving stop and converted into a force at second. Shortstop Young then made a play as good as Teixeira's, fielding Coco Crisp's sizzler on the short hop and turning it into another force. Crisp stole second, his first stolen base of the season, and after Pedroia drew a walk, Julio Lugo followed with a base hit up the middle, Crisp scoring.  Youkilis drew a walk to load the bases, but Millwood snagged David Ortiz's grounder to end the threat.

No. 1 draft pick Daniel Bard had a rough pro debut for the Single A Lancaster Jet Hawks, getting lifted after 67 pitches while retiring just eight batters. Bard, the former University of North Carolina star, gave up four runs on six hits, including a three-run home run by Taylor Teagarden, while walking one and striking out one.  Terrific outing by Devern Hansack Friday night for Pawtucket, as he whiffed 10 in 5 2/3 innings while allowing just a run on four hits and a walk.

The Sox have a roster decision to make when Mike Timlin returns, which is scheduled for Tuesday, assuming he reports no ill effects from his one inning for Pawtucket last night. The logical candidate would appear to be Javier Lopez, who has options and is one of three lefties in the pen. Lopez has pitched well in his two appearances prior to last night's game, going 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Curt Schilling, who pitches tomorrow, has never lost to the Rangers (4-0, 3.82) in eight appearances, including three starts. The only other time he pitched here was in the 2006 season opener, when he gave up two runs in seven innings. Alex Cora is expected to draw a start at second base in place of rookie Dustin Pedroia.