Martinez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kenny Lofton led off by popping up to Jose Offerman in right field. Omar Vizquel hit a pop up to the same spot but this time Offerman fell down and Omar got a "single". Roberto Alomar beat out a double play ball but Sox manager Jimy Williams felt that Alomar was out. Manny Ramirez took strike three to end the inning. Burba got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jose Offerman led off by grounding out to second. John Valentin flied out to right and Butch Huskey popped up to second to end the inning.
Jim Thome struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Harold Baines popped up to right. David Justice walked before Travis Fryman ripped a base hit to left. Sandy Alomar Jr took strike three on the outside corner to end the inning. Mike Stanley grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second before Troy O'Leary grounded out to second and Lou Merloni flied out to center to end the inning.
Lofton led off the top of the third by taking strike three on the inside corner. Vizquel flied out to left and Alomar grounded out to third to end the inning. Jason Varitek led off the bottom of the third with a liner right to Ramirez to start. Lewis flied out to right and Nixon flied out to center to end the inning.
The Indians struck first in the top of the fourth as Ramirez grounded out to third to start. Thome ripped a base hit up the middle and moved to third on a base hit to center by Baines. Justice scored Thome with a sac fly to center and Fryman struck out swinging with the Indians up 1-0.
Offerman walked to start the bottom of the fourth but Valentin flied out to center. Huskey singled to right but Stanley grounded into a double play to end the inning. All of a sudden Jaret Wright started warming up and camera showed a visibly upset Burba leaving the Indians dugout.
Sandy Alomar grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth before Lofton was rung up for strike three. Vizquel grounded out to short to end the inning. Apparently Burba left with an injury as Wright came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and O'Leary hit a ball off his shin, fielded by Fryman for the out. Merloni hit a seeing eye single into right and moved to third on a double off the monster by Varitek. Lewis blooped a base hit to center to score Merloni and move Varitek to third. Nixon hit a sac fly to right to score Varitek to put the Sox on top but Offerman hit a rocket but right at Thome to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
The Indians finally chased Ramon in the top of the sixth as Roberto Alomar doubled to center immediately. Alomar moved to third on the Ramirez grounder to first and Thome walked to put runners at the corners. Baines hit a double play ball to Stanley who flipped to Merloni who threw wide of first for an error to score Alomar to tie the game. Justice was intentionally walked and that was it for Martinez. He lasted 5 2/3 innings allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out six. Derek Lowe came in and got Fryman to ground into a force at third to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Sox wasted no time getting the lead back in the bottom of the sixth as Valentin launched a home run to dead center to put Boston back on top. Brian Daubach pinch hit for Huskey and struck out swinging before Stanley grounded out to short. O'Leary flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
The Sox defense failed in the top of the seventh as Sandy Alomar lined out to Stanley to start. Lofton singled to left before moving to second on a grounder to Lowe by Vizquel. Lofton stole third and Roberto Alomar walked to put runners at the corners. Ramirez hit routine grounder to Valentin who threw the ball in the dirt, Stanley unable to pick it for an error to score Lofton. Thome struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
The Sox exploded in the bottom of the seventh as Merloni walked to start. Varitek was plunked and that was it for Wright. Indians manager Mike Hargrove brought in Ricardo Rincon to face Lewis and Darren dropped down a bunt....getting Merloni thrown out at third. Things looked bleak when Nixon struck out swinging but Offerman walked to load the bases. Valentin stepped up with a double down the left field line to score Varitek and Lewis. Daubach pounded a three run bomb to ice the game. Sean DePaula replaced Rincon and Stanley walked before O'Leary dropped a base hit to left. Merloni lined a base hit up the middle to score Stanley, moving Troy to third. Varitek popped up to second to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 9-3.
Home run Daubach
Baines singled to center to start the top of the eighth but Justice forced him at second. Fryman grounded into a double play to end the inning. Steve Reed came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Lewis singled to right to start. Nixon flied out to center but Lewis was thrown out at home on a double by Offerman. Valentin lined out to left to end the inning.
Rod Beck came in to close out the top of the ninth and Sandy Alomar beat out a roller to third to start. Sandy moved to second on the Alomar grounder to first. Vizquel got a base hit to left to put runners at the corners. Vizquel took second on defensive indifference but Roberto Alomar struck out swinging. Ramirez popped up to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-3.
Hero of The Night is John Valentin. His two run double put the Sox up for good after his home run put them on top the inning before.
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Butch Huskey was 1 for 2.
Brian Daubach was 1 for 2 with a 3 run home run.
Jason Varitek was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and 2 runs scored.
Lou Merloni was 2 for 3 with a walk, an rbi and a run scored.
Darren Lewis was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Ramon Martinez tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out six.
Derek Lowe allowed an unearned run in 2 1/3 innings to get the win.
Rod Beck pitched a scoreless ninth inning
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Mike Stanley was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 4.
Trot Nixon was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox live another day. That was a gutsy win by the Sox in a game they needed to win to stay alive. Grumpy Indians fans are saying if Burba never got hurt, the Indians would have won. Same as how the Indians might not have won if Pedro Martinez didn't get hurt. Consider both teams even in the injury department so its on to Game 4. The Sox were teetering on the brink after the Indians took the lead but rallied against Wright and the Indians bullpen. Kudos to Derek Lowe and Rod Beck for slamming the door despite the errors. At least Valentin atoned for his error in a big way with the offense and Daubach had the biggest hit of the game. Don't forget Merloni for filling in for the injured Nomar Garciaparra. If the season is going to end, at least the Sox are going down swinging. The Sox look to stave off elimination tomorrow night in Game 4 when Kent Mercker goes for the Sox against Bartolo Colon on three days rest. The game begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
