The Red Sox hadn't had a hit off Daniel Cabrera until their 18th batter of the game, Mark Bellhorn, grounded a single into center field with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Within the next nine pitches, the roof had fallen in on the Orioles. Johnny Damon doubled (tying the game at 1-1), Edgar Renteria singled (2-1 Sox), David Ortiz singled (3-1 Sox) and Trot Nixon grounded out (4-1).
Wade Miller pitched seven strong innings, with better velocity than his short outing in Toronto, allowing only one run and five hits. He thought his best pitch was his last, a nasty breaking pitch that David Newhan took for strike three to end the seventh inning. Miller allowed two singles to start the frame and thus had the tying run at the plate three times. Jay Gibbons and Sal Fasano flew out before Miller set down Newhan. Mike Timlin (1.1) and Mike Myers (.2) finished up.
The Orioles' only run came in the third on Gibbons's triple and Fasano's double. On the triple, Damon banged his head against the metal fence along the bullpen wall in the triangle. He stayed in for the rest of the inning, but John Olerud pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the inning. ... Tito: "We couldn't let him hit like that. He gets [a pitch] up and in, he wouldn't see it."
Damon needed four stitches to close a cut over his right eye, but he believed he'd be ready to play tonight. ... Damon: "The only thing in question is probably my right knee. It got a little banged up and it swelled up a bit as the night went on."
The other story in today's papers is the first base situation. Kevin Millar says he's cool with splitting time with Olerud, in whatever platoon Francona decides. I'm not sure what else we expect him to say, but there it is.
Renteria was named American League Player of the Week. In six games, he went 16-for-24 with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs and a .680 on-base percentage. He got at least two hits in five of the six games. ... Doug Mirabelli is eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday, but he'll likely wait until Sunday (June 12), when Tim Wakefield faces the Cubs. ... Kelly Shoppach may get another start catching David Wells this Friday.
Boston's win brought them within three games of the first place Orioles. The Yankees lost to the lowly Royals 5-3 and fell back to fourth, four games back.
Wakefield / Ponson at 7:00
2 comments:
Nice to find some news on the Sox. I'm in Oregon and am a longtime fan. Due to no tv/radio coverage, the internet is my only tie to the team. I'll keep reading!
Your site is a good summary of what actually happened for those of us who rely on GameCast+SoSH now that SoSH seems to be going through some serious problems.
Thanks for keeping up in touch, despite the bad news.
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