ALEX CORA

A POWERFUL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Manny Ramirez & Alex Cora
lead to Sox past Toronto

April 19, 2007 ... Manny Ramirez's first home run of the season was a game-tying, two-run blast in today's 5-3 win over the Blue Jays. Winning time came courtesy of Alex Cora, the backup shortstop who turned a game-saving double play in the eighth despite absorbing a body block of dubious legality from 236-pound Lyle Overbay, then limped to the plate in the ninth to stroke a triple that knocked home pinch runner Julio Lugo. Cora scored a bonus run on Coco Crisp's sacrifice fly.

But for all the elements that went into a Sox win on an afternoon they threw No. 5 starter Tavarez against Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, the Blue Jays had the tying runs on base or at the plate in the ninth in both of their losses in the series.

As he did the night before, Jonathan Papelbon nailed down the win. After issuing a leadoff walk, he fanned two before finally getting Alex Rios on fly to right on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.

Coming into today's game, Ramirez's average had already dipped beneath the Mendoza Line five times this season, matching the most days he's spent under .200 in any season. In his first six seasons in Cleveland (not counting the September call-up in '93 in which he batted .170 in 22 games), Ramirez was under .200 four days. In 2004, when he led the American League in home runs with 43 and in OPS at 1.010, Ramirez spent one day with a batting average less than .300.  April averages fluctuate wildly, but when someone like Ramirez is hitting less than his weight, other players notice.

The home run was Ramirez's 26th in Rogers Centre; only A-Rod, with 30, has more among Blue Jays opponents. "We've all seen Manny make one swing and get in a groove for a long time," manager Terry Francona said.

The win went to Mike Timlin, who gave up a leadoff double to Vernon Wells in the eighth, but escaped first-and-third, one-out peril by starting a double play that took both grace and grit for Cora to convert. With Timlin's throw tailing toward right field, Cora managed to find the bag and avoid Overbay, who went out of his way and, it appeared, out of the base path to nail Cora.  Second baseman Dustin Pedroia grabbed a steamed Cora and kept him from Overbay.

Cora's triple was the sweetest revenge, and came after Pedroia reached on a fielder's choice, failing to bunt over Eric Hinske, who'd drawn a walk off Shawn Marcum to start the ninth. Lugo ran for Pedroia and Cora delivered off Jason Frasor, who saved the series opener.

Dustin Pedroia is hitless in his last 11 at-bats spanning five games, and with just one hit in 26 at-bats in his last nine games after going 5 for 10 in the first three games. Coco Crisp became the first Sox player since Darren Lewis on July 16, 1998, to record two bunt singles in a game.

Julian Tavarez, pitching for the first time in almost a fortnight (April 7), did his part in extending the Sox' streak to nine games in which they have allowed three or fewer runs. Tavarez yielded just one run through five innings, a home run by Frank Thomas to start the second, then weakened in the sixth, giving up a home run to Alex Rios, a single to Adam Lind, and an RBI double to Vernon Wells before being lifted with one out.

Joel Piniero, J.C. Romero, and Mike Timlin combined for 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth and recorded his fourth save. Papelbon had to work for it, issuing a full-count leadoff walk to Gregg Zaun, striking out Jason Smith and pinch hitter Matt Stairs, then retiring Rios on a fly to right after a 10-pitch at-bat in which Rios fouled off five two-strike pitches.

Jason Place, the South Carolina high school outfielder taken by the Sox with their second pick of the first round last season, hit two tape-measure home runs Wednesday in Savannah, Ga., while playing for the Single A Greenville Drive. The first cleared the bleachers and the back fence and left the stadium.

The Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Daniel Haigwood from the Rangers for Double A Portland right-hander Scott Shoemaker and cash considerations. Haigwood has been assigned to the Sea Dogs; the Sox' big league roster is now filled at 40. Haigwood has gone 35-18 with a 3.43 ERA in 88 minor league starts. The 23-year-old split the 2006 season between Double A Reading of the Phillies' organization and Double A Frisco of the Rangers' system, going a combined 3-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 27 starts. The 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pounder has yet to pitch this season, and had been designated for assignment. He was originally selected by the White Sox in the 16th round of the 2002 draft.