As for the game, the Sox offense exploded for 9 runs as they survived a late rally by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to take a 9-7 victory at Fenway Park.
Sox starter Jeff Fassero (4-1, 4.31 ERA) was game but ran into trouble in the top of the first inning. Gerald Williams singled and Miguel Cairo caught Fassero asleep with a bunt, who threw the ball away and allowed Williams to reach third. Greg Vaughn struck out but Jose Canseco doubled home both runners to give the Devil Rays a 2-0 lead. Fred McGriff grounded out but Canseco moved to third. Vinny Castilla grounded out to end the inning. Could the Sox respond against Tampa starter Bryan Rekar? NO! Jose Offerman, Darren Lewis and Trot Nixon all grounded out in short order.
Fassero settled down in the top of the second. John Flaherty grounded out as Bubba Trammell struck out. Kevin Stocker doubled but Williams flied out to end the inning. The Sox finally broke their 15 inning shutout streak going back to the 4th inning of Friday's game in the bottom of the second. Brian Daubach singled and very rarely swiped second as Troy O'Leary struck out. Carl Everett walked but Jason Varitek struck out. Wilton Veras then singled home Daubach and advanced Everett to third, who hustled all the way from first. Veras took second on the throw. Andy Sheets grounded out to end the inning but the Sox cut the lead 2-1.
The Rays got the run right back in the top of the third. Cairo singled but was erased on the Vaughn force. Canseco struck out but Vaughn swiped second. McGriff scored Vaughn with a single to increase the lead 3-1. Castilla popped up to end the inning. The Sox got back in the game with the help of the longball in the bottom of the third. Stocker booted a ball hit by Offerman and Jose was safe. Lewis flied out but Nixon slammed a 2 run home run to tie the game. Daubach grounded out but Troy O'Leary busted out of his slump with a solo shot to give the Sox a 4-3 lead. Everett struck out but the Sox were on top.
Fassero cruised in the top of the fourth. Flaherty singled but Trammell banged into a double play. Stocker flied out to end the inning. The Sox knocked Rekar out in the bottom of the fourth. Varitek doubled but both Veras and Sheets flied out. Offerman singled home Varitek to make it 5-3 and chase Rekar. Jeff Sparks was brought in and struck out Lewis to end the inning.
Fassero returned for the top of the fifth. Williams flied out but Cairo singled. Vaughn struck out but Cairo swiped second. Cairo swiped third as well but Canseco whiffed to end the inning. The Sox made some noise in the bottom of the fifth. Nixon walked but Daubach struck out. O'Leary singled Trot to third and Everett blasted his 10th home run of the year, a 3 run shot, to give the Sox an 8-3 lead. Varitek walked and Veras singled. A Sheets flyout moved Varitek to third but Offerman flied out to end the inning.
Fassero returned for the top of the sixth, something he hasn't completed this season so far. McGriff and Castilla flied out but Flaherty singled. Trammell struck out to end the inning. Fassero went 6 for the first time all year and left with the lead. Good effort Jeff. Jim Morris replaced Sparks in the bottom of the sixth. Lewis grounded out, Nixon struck out and Daubach grounded out to end the inning.
Fassero was gone and replacing him was Rich Garces for the top of the seventh inning. Later after the game, Sox manager Jimy Williams claimed he pulls Fassero because Pedro gives the bullpen a rest and it saves Jeff's arm. Stocker flied out, Williams grounded out and Cairo flied out to end the inning. Rick White was brought in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. O'Leary singled but Everett banged into a double play. Varitek popped up to end the inning.
The Rays rallied in the top of the eighth. Vaughn doubled but Canseco whiffed and that was it for Garces. Rheal Cormier was brought in and immediately poured gas on the fire. McGriff grounded out but Castilla smashed a 2 run home run to make it 8-5. Flaherty singled and Trammell homered to make it 8-7 just like that. Steve Cox pinch hit for Stocker as Sox closer Derek Lowe came in to stop the bleeding. Offerman booted the ball hit by Cox and Steve was safe. Ozzie Guillen pinch ran for Cox but Williams popped up to end the inning. The Sox got some much needed insurance in the bottom of the eighth. Rays closer Roberto Hernandez came in to pitch as Guillen moved to short. Veras and Sheets grounded out but Offerman doubled. The injured Nomar Garciaparra pinch hit for Darren Lewis and slammed a single to score Offerman and increase the lead 9-7.
Everett moved from the DH to center which means they would lose the DH if the game went into extra innings. Cairo grounded out but Veras booted a ball which allowed Vaughn to reach. Canseco struck out and Vaughn took second on defensive indifference. McGriff flied out to end the game. The Sox had survived 9-7
Hero of the Night is Nomar Garciaparra. His herculean single while in serious pain gave the Sox the insurance run they needed to win the game.
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored. Troy O'Leary was 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 runs scored. Carl Everett was 1 for 3 with a walk and a 3 run blast. Jason Varitek was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Wilton Veras was 2 for 4 with an rbi. Jeff Fassero got the win tossing 6 innings of 3 run ball, giving up 9 hits while striking out 6. Derek Lowe pitched a 4 out save to earn his 7th of the year.
The Bad:
Darren Lewis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Andy Sheets was 0 for 4. Rheal Cormier nearly gave the game away by allowing 3 runs in just 1/3 of an inning off 2 home runs.
The Ugly:
Trot Nixon was 1 for 4 with a walk, inlcluding a 2 run home run and 2 total runs scored. Brian Daubach was 1 for 4 with a run scored. Rich Garces gave up a run in an inning and a third.
Honorable Mention:
Manny Alexander pinch ran for Nomar in the bottom of the eighth.
Final Thoughts:
I hope Jimy Williams learned his lesson to not pull starters to early when they're not tired. Using Garces and Cormier nearly cost him the game and he had to use Lowe for yet another multiple inning save. Still, the offense came alive and did enough to get the victory. Everett is scorching hot right now so they need to ride the hot hand until Nomar is back fully healthy. Tomorrow the much maligned Brian Rose takes the mound opposite Tanyon Sturze and the Chicago White Sox. The win puts the Sox at 16-11, 3 games behind the New York Yankees for 1st place.
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