July 16, 2005

Nixon's ITP HR & Other Notes

Trot Nixon, on his first career inside-the-park home run: "It was like a tractor pull going from second to home. I felt like passing the baton to Dale."

Nixon: "[W]hen I left the batter's box, it looked like it was just going to be a line drive right to him. As he was coming forward, I was like, well maybe this has a chance to fall in. Then, at the last second, the ball -- on TV when I saw it -- it just darted away from him."

According to the Globe, Melky Cabrera, called up to the Yankees in the hopes of shoring up their outfield defense, "appeared to miss catcher Jorge Posada's frantic motions to play a bit more shallow during Ramirez's at-bat prior to Nixon's."

Notes: David Wells appealed his six-game suspension. ... Matt Mantei will have surgery and is out for the season. ... Bill Mueller left last night's game after straining his back in the sixth, but he's starting today. ... Adam Stern got his first career hit with a single in the eighth.

David Ortiz's grand slam was the ninth by the Red Sox this season, which ties a team record set in 2001, 1987, 1950 and 1941. .. Johnny Damon's 27-game hitting streak is tied for 5th-best in Sox history. ... Remembering Alex Cora's 18-pitch at-bat against Matt Clement.

The Red Sox signed Gabe Kapler on Friday night and put him on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain. After some rehabbing in the minors, he could be activated as early as July 30.

It looks like the Yankees are trading for Al Leiter and he will pitch Sunday night against the Sox. Today, it's Clement / Johnson at 1:20.

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