Four pitches into the top of the first, the Tigers had the lead as Greg Jefferies hit a piece of crap home un just inside the Pesky Pole to lead off the game. Brad Ausmus grounded out to short but Rich Becker walked. Juan Gonzalez struck out swinging and Bobby Higginson popped up to right to end the inning with the Tigers up 1-0.
The Sox could do nothing in the bottom of the first off Detroit starter Hideo Nomo. Jose Offerman was robbed of a hit on a great diving stab by Jose Macias to start. Trot Nixon grounded out to first and Brian Daubach flied out to right to end the inning.
The Tigers struck again in the top of the second as Dean Palmer hit a cue shot down the first base line for a double to start. Palmer moved to third on the grounder to second by Robert Fick and Jose Macias singled him home to increase the lead. Deivi Cruz flied out to right and Jefferies grounded out to second to end the inning with the Tigers up 2-0.
The Tigers struck again in the top of the second as Dean Palmer hit a cue shot down the first base line for a double to start. Palmer moved to third on the grounder to second by Robert Fick and Jose Macias singled him home to increase the lead. Deivi Cruz flied out to right and Jefferies grounded out to second to end the inning with the Tigers up 2-0.
Mike Stanley walked to begin the bottom of the second, but Carl Everett whiffed. Troy O'Leary flied out to the right field warning track and Jason Varitek struck out swinging to end the inning.
Ramon puked on himself in the top of the third and it started when Donnie Sadler airmailed Stanley on a ground ball by Ausmus to start. Becker hit a broken bat looper into right and Gonzalez doubled into the gap in right to score Ausmus with another run. Higginson was intentionally walked to load the bases and John Valentin made a great play on a Palmer grounder. Valentin tossed to second to get Higginson but Bobby took out Offerman to score Becker, Fick walked to re-load the bases and that was it for Ramon. Sox manager Jimy Williams removed Ramon after just 2 1/3 innings and 4 runs allowed so far.
Ramon puked on himself in the top of the third and it started when Donnie Sadler airmailed Stanley on a ground ball by Ausmus to start. Becker hit a broken bat looper into right and Gonzalez doubled into the gap in right to score Ausmus with another run. Higginson was intentionally walked to load the bases and John Valentin made a great play on a Palmer grounder. Valentin tossed to second to get Higginson but Bobby took out Offerman to score Becker, Fick walked to re-load the bases and that was it for Ramon. Sox manager Jimy Williams removed Ramon after just 2 1/3 innings and 4 runs allowed so far.
John Wasdin came in to pour gas on the fire as Macias hit a broken bat looper just over the reach of Offerman to score Gonzalez and move Palmer to third. Cruz hit a sac fly to left to score Palmer and Jefferies dumped an opposite field base hit to left to score Macias with another run to close the book on Ramon. Ausmus popped up to end the inning with the Tigers in front 7-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third although Valentin singled in the hole at short to start. Sadler struck out swinging and Offerman flied out weakly to left, but Nixon singled up the middle. Daubach took a full count strike three on the inside corner to end the inning.
Wasdin returned for the top of the fourth and gave up a lead off double to Becker off the bottom of the Monster. Wasdin turned up the heat by striking out Gonzalez swinging, Higginson looking and Palmer swinging to end the inning. The Sox couldn't touch Nomo in the bottom of the fourth as Stanley flied out to the left field warning track to start. Gonzalez ran down an Everett fly ball and O'Leary flied out to left to end the inning.
Wasdin came back for the top of the fifth and Fick popped up to second to start. Macias popped up to Wasdin who almost took a glove to the head from Stanley and Cruz lined out to a jumping Offerman to end the inning. The Sox threatened to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Varitek walked but Valentin struck out looking. Sadler got a bloop hit to right but Offerman was rung up for strike three on a check swing in the dirt. Nixon popped up to shallow left to end the inning.
Rheal Cormier came in for the top of the sixth and Jefferies flied out to right to start. Ausmus singled to center but Becker flied out to left. Gonzalez grounded into a force at second to end the inning. The Sox finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Daubach flied out to right but Stanley smashed a solo home run into the screen in left. Gonzalez let a line drive by Everett drop in front of him and that was it for Nomo. Willie Blair came in to pitch but O'Leary greeted him with a little roller up the middle for a base hit. Varitek popped up to first and Valentin grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox down 7-1.
Wasdin returned for the top of the fourth and gave up a lead off double to Becker off the bottom of the Monster. Wasdin turned up the heat by striking out Gonzalez swinging, Higginson looking and Palmer swinging to end the inning. The Sox couldn't touch Nomo in the bottom of the fourth as Stanley flied out to the left field warning track to start. Gonzalez ran down an Everett fly ball and O'Leary flied out to left to end the inning.
Wasdin came back for the top of the fifth and Fick popped up to second to start. Macias popped up to Wasdin who almost took a glove to the head from Stanley and Cruz lined out to a jumping Offerman to end the inning. The Sox threatened to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Varitek walked but Valentin struck out looking. Sadler got a bloop hit to right but Offerman was rung up for strike three on a check swing in the dirt. Nixon popped up to shallow left to end the inning.
Rheal Cormier came in for the top of the sixth and Jefferies flied out to right to start. Ausmus singled to center but Becker flied out to left. Gonzalez grounded into a force at second to end the inning. The Sox finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Daubach flied out to right but Stanley smashed a solo home run into the screen in left. Gonzalez let a line drive by Everett drop in front of him and that was it for Nomo. Willie Blair came in to pitch but O'Leary greeted him with a little roller up the middle for a base hit. Varitek popped up to first and Valentin grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox down 7-1.
Cormier returned for the top of the seventh and Higginson flied out to right to start. Palmer struck out swinging and Fick was robbed of a home run by Nixon to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the bottom of the seventh as Sadler dumped a base hit to right to start. Offerman cause the Tigers asleep with a bunt single to third Lefty Allen McDill was brought in but Sox manager Jimy Williams countered by pinch hitting lefty Nixon with righty Jeff Frye. Sox analyst Jerry Remy questioned the move by saying they'll need Nixon's power in the ninth but Frye delivered with a base hit to left to load the bases. Daubach popped up to third and Matt Anderson replaced McDill. Stanley and Everett both walked to cut the lead. O'Leary then scored Frye with a sac fly to center. Suddenly representing the tying run, Varitek struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox had rallied to make a game of it, 7-4.
Frye remained in right as Rich Garces came in to pitch the top of the eighth. Macias took strike three, Cruz struck out swinging and Jefferies flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox rallied again in the bottom of the eighth. Danny Patterson came in to pitch and was quickly chased when Valentin dropped a single in front of Becker to start. Sadler singled up the middle and bye by Patterson. Doug Brocail came in to pitch got a big out when Offerman struck out swinging. Frye then doubled home Valentin to put the tying run at second base. Daubach and Stanley both whiffed on full counts to end the inning. If nothing else the Sox were showing balls on both sides of the plate by rallying down 7-0 to make it 7-5.
Sox closer Derek Lowe took the mound in the top of the ninth and Ausmus popped up to second to start. Becker popped up to short but Gonzalez doubled in the gap in left. Higginson struck out looking to end the inning. The Sox bullpen had done their jobs, not allowing any runs since the third inning. Tigers closer Todd Jones came in to close out the game. Everett whiffed, O'Leary grounded out to short and Varitek struck out swinging to end the game. The Tigers held on to win the game 7-5.
The Good:
Trot Nixon was 1 for 3 with a great catch before being replaced.
Jeff Frye was 2 for 2 with a run and an rbi.
Mike Stanley was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, a run scored and 2 rbi's.
John Valentin was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Donnie Sadler was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
Rheal Cormier tossed two innings of scoreless relief.
Rich Garces tossed a perfect eighth inning.
Derek Lowe pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Brian Daubach was a strong candidate for Jackass by going 0 for 5 and repeatedly failing with men on base.
Brian Daubach was a strong candidate for Jackass by going 0 for 5 and repeatedly failing with men on base.
The Ugly:
Jose Offerman was just 1 for 5 with a run scored.
Jose Offerman was just 1 for 5 with a run scored.
Carl Everett was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.
Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jason Varitek was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
John Wasdin pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief but allowed 3 inherited runners to score.
Final Thoughts.
Well it was nice to see the Sox have balls to come back to make a game of it, both on pitching and offense. Its too bad the Sox couldn't complete the comeback because it would have been the win of the year. Something needs to be done about Ramon because he's been worse than Brian Rose this year so far. Jeff Fassero and Pete Schourek have done well with Pedro but Ramon, not so much. The worst part about this way was how the Tigers got their seven runs, just spraying the ball all over the field. They may have to make a trade or bring someone up. Its too bad Bret Saberhagen is out for the year. The loss dropped the Sox to 25-15, still in first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox start a 3 game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Pedro Martinez matches up with Chris Carpenter at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment