March 6, 2005

Sunday: Red Sox 5, Phillies 4

Another win this afternoon. Box to come.
Phillies 110 200 000 - 4 5 0
Red Sox 001 004 00x - 5 9 0
The highlight was a triple play begun by shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the top of the sixth inning. Ramirez leapt high and caught a rising line drive by Todd Pratt, stepped on second to double off Ryan Howard, and threw to first to get Jason Michaels. Boston then rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Starter Jeremi Gonzalez allowed two hits and two runs in two innings.

Terry Francona says he won't use a strict platoon in right field with Trot Nixon and Jay Payton, but Payton will get a decent amount of playing time against lefties. Nixon hit only .133 (2-for-15) against lefties last year compared to .336 against righties. In his career, Nixon has hit .293 against RHP and .213 against LHP. Trot: "I don't like it. I don't accept [that I can't hit left-handers]. ... I've had my opportunities against lefties, but usually tough lefties and guys out of the bullpen."

More on Dave Roberts, from Newsday. ... Read an excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry and the War for the Pennant, in which Shonda Schilling and Michelle Mangum (now Johnny Damon's wife) had to be separated from one another after ALCS Game 3. Catfight!

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