Hermanson Hurt, Game Rained Out (4/3/02)

After injuries derailed a promising season last year, the last thing the 2002 Red Sox needed was more injuries. In fact, they signed starting pitcher Dustin Hermanson because of his durability more than his 95 mph fastball. So guess what happened.....he got hurt. The worst part about it was the game that started an hour late due to rain was cancelled after the second inning. MLB has rescheduled the game for July 2nd to make that day a doubleheader.

Hermanson struck out two of the three batters he got out in the top of the first inning and the Sox did nothing in the home half against Toronto starter Luke Prokopec. Then as he was warming up in the rain, Hermanson slipped and pulled a groin muscle. He threw two pitches to Carlos Delgado and had to leave the game. Tim Wakefield replaced him and struck out both Delgado and Jose Cruz. Darrin Fletcher hit a ball all the way to the Grand Canyon to put the Jays on top, but Wakefield got the third out with no damage. Jason Varitek hit a home run off Prokopec to tie the game but after Johnny Damon flied out to end the inning, the game was called.

So not only does Hermanson's start not count, Varitek gets a home run taken away to boot. What a shame. We'll find out tomorrow who replaces Hermanson if he's out for any length of time.

                                                     So much for Hermanson

Tomorrow is another off-day and the Sox are back in action Friday night in Baltimore. Derek Lowe will make his season debut as a starter up against Josh Towers of the Orioles. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.

Off-Day News (4/2/02)

On this day in Basebawful History:

1984 - Errors doom Sox on Opening Day

1997 - Sox rally past Angels on Opening Day

1998 - Sox win late

2001 - O's walkoff Sox in 11 on Opening Day

The Sox are back in action tomorrow night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Dustin Hermanson makes his Red Sox debut against Luke Prokopec of the Blue Jays. The game begins at 6:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Blue Jays Spoil Opening Day Slugfest (4/1/02)

Happy 2002 Season Boston Red Sox fans....it sucks already! In what was a memorable Opening Day the Sox engaged in a surprise slugfest with the Toronto Blue Jays. Jays ace Chris Carpenter and Sox ace Pedro Martinez both laid eggs as the two teams teed off with a lot of offense. The Sox trailed 8-3 before rallying to take an 11-8 lead only to give it up. Closer Ugueth Urbina couldn't keep it tied and after all of that it was the Jays that took Opening Day 12-11 at Fenway Park. Not a good start to the year.

Pedro took the mound in the top of the first and wasn't himself. Shannon Stewart drew a full count walk before rookie Eric Hinske popped up to a running Manny Ramirez in left. Raul Mondesi flied out to right but Carlos Delgado was plunked. Jose Cruz Jr stroked a double in front of the Monster to score Stewart and advance Delgado to third. Darrin Fletcher doubled into the gap to score both runners as Sox analyst Jerry Remy remarked not only was Pedro's velocity down but his changeup was out of sorts. Vernon Wells grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 3-0 Jays.

                                                         Pedro gets hammered

The Sox fought back against Blue Jays starter Chris Carpenter although new centerfielder Johnny Damon grounded out to third to begin. Jose Offerman struck the Sox' first home run into the season beyond the bullpen to cut into the lead. Nomar Garciaparra grounded out to short before Manny Ramirez walked. New first basemen Tony Clark grounded out to first to end the inning but it was 3-1 Toronto.

                                                       Opening day homer for Offerman

Pedro returned for another beating in the top of the second as Homer Bush hit a blooping double down the right field line to start. Felipe Lopez dropped down a bunt and Pedro dropped it for an error. Stewart blooped a single to center to load the bases before Hinske blooped a single down the right field line to score both Bush and Lopez. Mondesi hit a roller up the middle that crossed up Nomar and Rey Sanchez to score Stewart. Delgado blooped a single to center to score Hinske. Pedro froze Mondesi for strike three on the outside corner before blowing away Fletcher. Pedro turned up the heat to blow away Wells to end the inning with the score now 7-1 Toronto.

                                                   Pedro couldn't find his groove

The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the second as Trot Nixon launched a solo shot to dead center to cut into the lead. Shea Hillenbrand popped up to center but Jason Varitek in his first at-bat since June of last year launched a home run of his own to right. Sanchez looked at strike three on the outside corner but Damon grounded one up the middle for a base hit. Offerman was rung up on a check swing for strike three to end the inning but it was now 7-3 Jays.

                                                 Nixon and Varitek go yard

The Blue Jays pounced again in the top of the third although Pedro got Bush to ground out to short to begin. Lopez motored around for a triple into the gap before Stewart was plunked. Hinske hit a warning track fly out to center but Stewart advanced to second and Lopez scored to increase the lead.

                                                            The score says it all

The Sox refused to go quietly in the bottom of the third as Nomar led off with a double off the top of the centerfield wall. Ramirez walked and Clark lit up the crowd with a 3 run home run to center to put the Sox back in it. Welcome to Boston Clark! Nixon whiffed but Hillenbrand walked to chase Carpenter. Scott Eyre replaced Chris and Varitek greeted him with a single. Sanchez walked to load the bases but Damon made a huge out by popping up to Hinske in foul territory. Offerman grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 8-6.

                                                        Clark with a three run homer

Pedro came out for the top of the fourth and Delgado blooped a single to right center to start. Cruz Jr drew a walk and that was it for Pedro. In one of his worst starts in memory, Pedro lasted just 3 innings while giving up a career high 7 earned runs (8 total). Guess he was rusty as hell.

                                                     Not Pedro's best work

Lefty Darren Oliver, who was supposed to be the fifth starter with John Burkett on the DL, came in to relieve Pedro as Fletcher bunted both men into scoring position. Some yahoo ran out onto the field and went to shake Nomar's hand before alert Fenway security seized the intruder and wrestled him to the ground. When action resumed Oliver got a key out when Wells hit one up the elevator shaft that Varitek snared in an eerily similar play to last June when he broke his elbow. Oliver whiffed Bush to end the inning.

The Sox exploded in the bottom of the fourth although Nomar was rung up for strike three to start. Ramirez walked and Clark batting from the right side this time lined a base hit to center. Nixon walked on four pitched to load the bases and Hillenbrand lined a base hit up the middle to score Manny and reload the bases. Varitek blooped a single into right to score Clark, tie the game and once again reload the bases. Sanchez worked the count full and stroked a base hit to right center to score Nixon and Hillenbrand to give the Sox their first lead of the game. Jays manager Buck Martinez brought in rookie Scott Cassidy making his MLB debut to pitch to Damon only to uncork a wild pitch to advance Sanchez to second. A strange play occured when Wells made a diving catch to rob Damon and Varitek tagged up and scored. Damon didn't think the ball was caught and ran hard to second, confusing Sanchez into running back to the bag. The Jays thought that Sanchez was called out at second and ran off the field. The umpires got together and ruled it was a sac fly to score Varitek and Sanchez was safe at second although the irony was the replays showed Wells didn't actually catch the ball. Things suddenly got hot as the Jays appealled at third that Varitek left early and he clearly didn't. Jays bench coach Cookie Rojas stormed out of the dugout and shouted invectives at third base umpire Andy Fletcher. Fletcher told him to sit down and shut up which caused Cookie to run at him screaming, fists flying. First base umpire Derryl Cousins said that's enough of that and gave Cookie the heave ho. Buck Martinez then flew out of the dugout screaming like a banshee to home plate umpire Joe Brinkman that the first base umpire shouldn't be trying to interject himself while trying to hold back Rojas who had now torn his clothes off in frustration. Martinez hauled Rojas off the field and finally play resumed. Offerman walked to reload the bases but Nomar popped up to center to end the inning After all of that the Sox had scored 5 runs to take an 11-8 lead.

                                                     Mayhem at Fenway

Give the Jays credit for coming right back in the top of the fifth inning although Lopez grounded out to short to start. Stewart hit a routine grounder to Nomar who threw the ball straight in the air and caught it in his hat for an error to advance Shannon to second before Hinske singled off the leg of Oliver to put runners at the corners. Mondesi lined out to a running Damon to score Stewart to cut the lead. Delgado was plunked and Cruz Jr singled in Hinske. Fletcher blooped a single to center to tie game and chase Oliver. Rolando Arrojo made his season debut by getting Wells to ground out to short to end the inning with the game tied 11-11.

The offense was done for a while in the bottom of the fifth although Manny walked to begin. Clark walked before Nixon popped up to center. Hillenbrand popped up to second before Varitek walked to load the bases. Sanchez whiffed on a 3-2 fastball to end the inning, what a waste.

Arrojo came back for the top of the 6th and plunked Bush to start. Lopez advanced him to second on a bang bang play at first before Arrojo froze Stewart on a check swing strike three. Hinske walked and Sox pitching coach Tony Cloninger went to the mound to inform Rolando a new episode of Friends was on that night. Arrojo got so excited he got Mondesi to ground into a force to end the inning. Felix Heredia was brought in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Damon flied out to right to start. Offerman grounded out to first and Nomar lined out to third to end the inning.

Casey Fossum was brought in to pitch the top of the seventh and he walked Delgado to start. Cruz Jr flied out to left before Fletcher flied out to deep right. Wells grounded out to third to end the inning. Ramirez led off the bottom of the seventh by striking out swinging before Clark was robbed of extra bases by Cruz making a diving catch. Nixon walked and Hillenbrand blooped a single to no man's land in left before a wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. Varitek walked to load the bases and Cruz made an even better diving catch to rob Sanchez of a bloop single to end the inning.

                                                           Cruz saves the day for the Jays

"El Guapo" Rich Garces came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning and got Bush to line out to right to start. Lopez flied out to left before Stewart grounded back to the agile Garces to end the inning. Dan Plesac came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Damon took ball four to start. The boo's rained down when Offerman popped up the bunt to first. That was it for Plesac as Buck Martinez brought in closer Kelvim Escobar. Damon was thrown out at second trying to steal and Nomar whiffed to end the inning.

Sox closer Ugueth Urbina took the mound in the top of the ninth and got Hinske to fly out to right to begin. Mondesi walked and Delgado singled to right before they executed a double steal. Cruz Jr was intentionally walked to set up the double play but Fletcher scored Mondesi with a sac fly to give the Jays the lead. Wells whiffed to end the inning but the Jays took the lead 12-11.

                                                     Fletcher gives the sox the lead

The Sox had one last chance to rally in the bottom of the ninth but Ramirez whiffed to start. Clark singled to right and the legendary Rickey Henderson pinch ran for Tony. Nixon popped up to Lopez in foul territory and Hillenbrand grounded into a force to end the game. The Jays had survived the slugfest and had won it 12-11.

Jackass of the Night is Ugueth Urbina. Yes Pedro Martinez stunk the joint out and Darren Oliver gave up the lead but it was Urbina who blew the game in the top of the ninth.

                                            Why are you pumping your fist, Jackass?



The Good:

Manny Ramirez walked 4 times and scored 2 runs.

Tony Clark was 3 for 5 with a walk, 2 total runs scored and a 3 run home run.

Shea Hillenbrand was 2 for 5 with a walk, rbi and run scored.

Jason Varitek was 3 for 3 with 2 walks, 2 total rbis, 2 total runs scored including a home run.

Rolando Arrojo pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings

Casey Fossum pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Rich Garces pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Pedro Martinez was terrible in 3 plus innings of work allowing 8 runs, 7 earned.

Darren Oliver was trusted with a 3 run lead and gave all 3 runs back.



The Ugly:

Johnny Damon was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.

Jose Offerman was just 1 for 5 with a walk but the one hit was a solo home run.

Nomar Garciaparra was just 1 for 6.

Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but walked twice, scored two total runs including a home run.

Rey Sanchez was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in 2 runs.



Honorable Mention:

Ricky Henderson pinch ran for Clark in the bottom of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Well that was a very interesting opening day even if the Sox didn't win. The offense looked damn good and they can build on a lot of what happened today. Pedro Martinez was rusty and he probably won't give up 8 runs in a start the rest of the year. A normal Pedro start and the Sox would have won this game in a rout. Urbina is supposed to be their answer to Mariano Rivera and he sure didn't look it today. Still if Clark can be the hitter he was in Detroit then this will be the offense they invisioned last year with Nomar healthy. Still, a loss at home sucks and this one hurt. After an off-day the Sox are back in action Wednesday night against the Blue Jays as Dustin Hermanson makes his Red Sox debut opposite Luke Prokopec. The game starts at 6 PM at Fenway Park.

Pedro Hurt Again, Yankees Win (9/7/01)

The Red Sox worst fears came true when Pedro Martinez' aching shoulder finally gave out after 3 innings against the New York Yankees. The injured Martinez gutted through 6 innings last week but couldn't answer the bell this time. The Sox offense was once again shut down by Orlando Hernandez who's only two wins this year have come against the Red Sox. As it was, the Yankees took the game 3-2 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                  "Why oh why did Pedro come back?"

Orlando Hernandez got the ball to start the game and the Sox immediately pounced on him in the top of the first. Jose Offerman flied to centerfield on the third pitch. Last week's hero Trot Nixon flied out to left but Carl Everett doubled off the bottom of the centerfield wall. Manny Ramirez had been hitting .242 since June 5 but he singled home Everett here to make it 1-0 Sox. Brian Daubach doubled over the glove of Chuck Knoblauch in left to score Ramirez. Troy O'Leary flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox led 2-0. The injured Pedro Martinez took the mound in the bottom of the first and got Knoblauch to ground out to Mike Lansing at short. Randy Velarde flied out to center as Sox analyst Jerry Remy said Pedro's velocity was down. Bernie Williams grounded out to second to end the inning.

Hernandez settled down in the top of the second. Scott Hatteberg flied out to center, Shea Hillenbrand grounded out to third and Lansing struck out to end the inning. The Yankees figured out Pedro's fastball was gone so they teed off on him in the bottom of the second. Sox analyst Jerry Remy said his delivery was off as Tino Martinez chopped a single past a diving Lansing into center for a base hit. David Justice doubled into the left field corner and Tino scored on the groundout by Jorge Posada. Sox manager Joe Kerrigan brought the infield in since the Sox have been utterly useless at the plate lately. It didn't matter as Paul O'Neil singled into right to score Justice to tie the game. Alfonso Soriano then singled past the diving Lansing to move O'Neil to third. That's twice now Lansing could have made a play. It got even worse when Enrique Wilson grounded right to Lansing....right out of his glove, scoring O'Neil to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Knoblauch walked to load the bases as Sox analyst Jerry Remy said Pedro shouldn't be out there and should shut it down for the season. Sox broadcaster Sean McDonough said Pedro was too proud to quit which is why he took the ball. Right on cue Pedro struck out Velarde and Williams grounded out to end the inning.

Hernandez cruised in the top of the third inning. Offerman flied out to the right field wall, Nixon grounded out and Everett flied out to the right field wall as well to end the inning. Pedro returned for the bottom of the third and got Posada to pop up to third. Justice walked but Posada struck out on a foul tip. O'Neil looked at strike three to end the inning.

The Sox got off to a good start in the top of the fourth when Ramirez hit a ball beyond the third base line that struck the ballboy's chair, somehow it was ruled a double. Daubach crushed one to the wall but Williams snared it, but it was a productive out as Manny moved to third. Manny was stranded when O'Leary whiffed. Hatteberg walked but Hillenbrand popped up to end the inning. Pedro was done as Tim Wakefield was brought in to pitch the bottom of the fourth. Soriano beat out an infield single and advanced to second on the ground out by Wilson. Some fan ran on the field and slid into second and third before being tackled and arrested. Knoblauch was hit with a pitch and both runners moved over on the ground out by Velarde. Williams grounded out to end the inning.

Hernandez cruised in the top of the fifth. Lansing grounded out, Offerman flied out to the wall in right and Nixon hit a rocket to Martinez at first to end the inning, Wakefield returned for the bottom of the fifth and Martinez reached on a ground ball booted by Offerman. Justice singled to center but Posada flied out to left. Martinez got picked off and O'Neil popped up to end the inning.

Another fan ran onto the field to begin the top of the sixth as Yankees PA announcer Bob Shepard warned fans not to run out on the field. Bob should have said "The next person to run out on the field will be shot!" Everett swung for the fences on a 3-2 count...and missed. Ramirez grounded out and Daubach struck out to end the inning. Wakefield returned for the bottom of the sixth after a commercial for the movie Rock Star. Marky Mark as a rock star, yeah that makes sense. Soriano struck out but Wilson hit a little flare in front of Everett for a single. Wilson was thrown out trying to steal and Knoblauch looked at strike three to end the inning.

Hernandez cruised in the top of the seventh. O'Leary watched strike three go by, Hatteberg grounded out and Hillenbrand popped up to end the inning. The Sox got their lone late inning highlight when Velarde singled and O'Leary gunned him down at second trying to steal. Williams walked but Martinez and Justice flied out to end the inning.

Ramiro Mendoza took the mound in the top of the eighth. Lansing grounded out, Offerman flied out and Nixon grounded out to end the inning. That's 13 in a row retired by Yankee pitching. Rod Beck was brought in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Posada walked and moved to second on the ground out by O'Neil. Soriano whiffed and Hillenbrand made a diving stab to rob Wilson of a hit to end the inning.

Mariano Rivera got the ball in the top of the ninth. Everett broke his bat on a liner to Soriano, Ramirez grounded out and Daubach whiffed to end the game. The Yankees had won it 3-2, not allowing a baserunner after the fourth inning.

Jackass of the night is Mike Lansing. His horrid defense allowed the Yankees to beat around Pedro in the second inning when a few plays would have kept the Yankees off the scoreboard.  He was also 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

                                                          Mike Lansing: Jackass


The Good:

Manny Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a run and an rbi.


The Bad:

Jose Offerman and Trot Nixon were both 0 for 4. Troy O'Leary was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts. Shea Hillenbrand was 0 for 3. Pedro Martinez took the loss only lasting 3 innings while giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. He never should have been out there. Tim Wakefield was outstanding, tossing 4 innings of scoreless relief to keep the Sox in the game. Rod Beck pitched a scoreless eighth inning.



The Ugly:

Carl Everett was 1 for 4 but scored a run. Brian Daubach was 1 for 4 but drove in a run. Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 2 but walked.




Final Thoughts:

As if things weren't going down the drain to begin with, the loss of Martinez pretty much puts the exclamation point on this miserable season. Nomar Garciaparra never got out of the box after suffering the wrist injury in spring training, Pedro Martinez blows his shoulder out in May, Jason Varitek breaks his elbow in June, Derek Lowe suddenly went from one of the best closers in the game to one of the worst, they fired the manager when he was twelve games OVER 500 and replaced him with a pitching coach who apparently isn't as respected as we all thought. Bret Saberhagen's comeback was short lived. Craig Grebeck was super utility man last year and his career evaporated this year. Don't forget the Sox pitching staff holds the Yankees to 6 earned runs, ONE by the starters last week and they fired John Cumberland the new pitching coach. Manny Ramirez has been useless since July and Carl Everett has been mediocre since the second half of LAST year. Where would the Sox be without Hideo Nomo and Rich Garces this year? I really don't want to find out. The loss puts the Sox at 72-67, 11 games behind the Yankees for first place with just 23 to go. The Sox hope to bounce back tomorrow with David Cone (8-4) up against last week's near perfecto Mike Mussina (14-11).

Yankees Sweep Sox, Mussina Nearly Perfect (9/2/01)

If you were to tell me the Boston Red Sox starting pitching held the New York Yankees to 1 earned run in 3 games I would have said "Wow, what a sweep." Yeah, it was a sweep alright, sweep for the YANKEES. After Joe Kerrigan's awful pitch count rules spoiled Frank Castillo's shutout start Friday night andUgueth Urbina spoiled Pedro Martinez' start yesterday, Mike Mussina damn near pitched a perfect game tonight. After all that, the Sox were swept by the world champion Yankees. The 3-peat champs always seem to find a way to win no matter what. Tonight David Cone (8-4, 4.13 ERA) pitched his ass off but Mussina came one strike away from throwing a perfect game. It took a pinch hit effort by Carl Everett to spoil the perfecto but the Yankees still swept the Sox out of Fenway with a 1-0 win.

                                                                "I almost had it!"

Cone took the mound in the top of the first inning and Chuck Knoblauch whiffed to start. Derek Jeter hit a routine ground ball to Mike Lansing at short who turned around and threw the ball into the third base seats for an error. David Justice popped up to short but Jeter swiped second. Bernie Williams grounded out to second to end the inning. Mussina began his dominance in the bottom of the first as Trot Nixon whiffed to start. Lansing looked at strike three on the inside corner before Izzy Alcantara lined out to short to end the inning.

Tino Martinez began the top of the second inning with a single up the middle but Jorge Posada whiffed on a splitter down and away. Paul O'Neil banged into a double play to end the inning. Manny Ramirez looked at strike three to begin the bottom of the second before Dante Bichette whiffed. Brian Daubach thought he had ball four but he was rung up for strike three to end the inning.

Cone got no help from his defense in the top of the third inning although Randy Velarde popped up to second to start. Alfonso Soriano flied out to the warning track in front of the Monster before Knoblauch hit a routine grounder to Lansing who kicked the ball over to second, running in a circle screaming "GOALLLL!!" for another error. Jeter grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the third as Shea Hillenbrand led off by grounding out to short to start. Lou Merloni also grounded out to short before Joe Oliver grounded out to second to end the inning.

Cone did what he could in the top of the fourth inning as Justice grounded out to first to start. Williams flied out to the warning track in center but Martinez walked. Posada whiffed to end the inning. Mussina remained perfect in the bottom of the fourth as Nixon grounded out to first to start. Lansing was rung up for strike three on a high fastball before Alcantara was frozen by a curve at the knees to end the inning.

Cone continued his own good game in the top of the fifth as O'Neil froze on a back door curveball for strike three to begin. Velarde whiffed on a curveball before Soriano popped up to a running Lansing to end the inning. The Sox couldn't touch Mussina in the bottom of the fifth as Manny looked at strike three on the inside corner to start. Bichette grounded out to third before Daubach was frozen for strike three on the outside corner to end the inning.

Cone kept pace in the top of the sixth although Knoblauch singled in the hole at short. Cone recovered to get Jeter to hit into a double play before Justice whiffed badly to end the inning. Mussina remained perfect in the bottom of the sixth as Hillenbrand popped up to center to start. As sad as it sounds, that was the first ball out of the infield for the Sox. Merloni popped up to right and Oliver took strike three to end the inning.

Cone matched Mussina in the top of the seventh as Williams grounded out to first to start. Martinez lined out to short but Posada doubled down the right field line past the diving Daubach. O'Neil was intentionally walked and rookie Nick Johnson pinch hit for Velarde only for Cone to strike him out on a splitter to end the inning. The Sox still couldn't hit Mussina in the bottom of the seventh with Enrique Wilson now at third. Nixon grounded out to first before Lansing lined out to Soriano at second. Alcantara was frozen for strike three to end the inning.

Miraculously Cone kept the shut-out going in the top of the eighth although Soriano singled to right to begin. Knoblauch flied out to the centerfield warning track before Jeter whiffed. Soriano swiped second before Justice walked. Sox pitching coach John Cumberland went to the mound and informed Cone that Star Trek Voyager was on in the clubhouse and David responded by getting Williams to fly out to the centerfield wall to end the inning. Mussina kept the perfect game in the bottom of the eighth as Manny popped up to short to start. Bichette flied out to center and Daubach earned the hat trick with another strikeout to end the inning.

The Yankees finally got to Cone in the top of the ninth but not without some help. Martinez blooped a single to center but Posada popped up to left. O'Neil hit a routine double play ball to Merloni but he dove on the ball and wrestled with it for an error that allowed Martinez to go to third. Clay Bellinger pinch ran for Martinez as Sox manager Joe Kerrigan went to the mound. Rather than take Cone out he told him to go get Wilson before leaving. Leaving David in backfired as Wilson doubled down the right field line to score Bellinger and give the Yankees the lead. That was it for Cone who was outstanding, going 8 1/3 inning allowing just the unearned run.

                                                      Cone deserved better

Derek Lowe came in to stop the bleeding and he struck out Soriano to get a key out. Knoblauch hit a grounder to third that Hillenbrand damn near threw away. Daubach scooped it but almost got cleaned out by Knoblauch to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.

Mussina came out to finish the perfect game in the bottom of the ninth as Troy O'Leary pinch hit for Hillenbrand. O'Leary hit a bullet but Bellinger made a great diving stop and flip to Mussina for the out. Merloni whiffed on a curve in the dirt before Carl Everett pinch hit for Oliver. Mussina was one strike away from perfection when Everett lined a base hit to left to break up the perfecto. Darren Lewis pinch ran for Everett and now after all of that, one swing of the bat would either tie or win the game. Nixon took Roger Clemens yard to win a game in the ninth last season but this time Mussina got Trot to ground out to second to end the game. The Yankees had swept the Red Sox out of Fenway with 3 straight late inning rallies and effectively ended the AL East race.

Jackass of the Night is a tough one since 10 out of 11 guys failed to put the ball in play just once but I'll go with Lou Merloni. Not only did he go 0 for 4 but his error in the ninth led to the only run scoring for the Yankees.

                                                         Merloni you Jackass!



The Good:

Carl Everett got the only hit of the game for the Sox pinch hitting in the ninth.

David Cone was the hard luck loser but he was hardly a loser. He tossed 8 1/3 innings and gave up no earned runs, just the unearned in the ninth while striking out 8.

Derek Lowe retired the only two men he faced.



The Bad:

Trot Nixon was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Mike Lansing was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts and 2 errors.

Izzy Alcantara was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Manny Ramirez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Dante Bichette was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Brian Daubach was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Shea Hillenbrand was 0 for 2.

Troy O'Leary was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Joe Oliver was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

None



Honorable Mention:

Darren Lewis pinch ran for Everett in the bottom of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

As the season goes down the crapper this series was a microcosm of exactly why. The Sox had 3 straight outstanding starting pitching performances against the Yankees but the champs still found ways to win. Nothing is going right for the Red Sox and it feels like the titanic is sinking. They did their best to hold on waiting for Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez to return but Nomar's wrist just couldn't get healthy and Pedro's shoulder is definitely not right. That extra inning marathon loss seemed to sap the life of this team and it doesn't look like they are a playoff contender. How do you come back from this? You hold the best team in baseball to 2 runs in 3 games by your starters and lose all three of them, how are you going to beat anyone else? The loss dropped the Sox to 71-64, 9 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East with just 27 games to play. After an off-day the Sox return to action Tuesday night with the Cleveland Indian coming to town. Indians ace Bartolo Colon goes for the Indians against Hideo Nomo (11-6) of the Sox at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Yankees Late Blast Sinks Sox (9/1/01)

The New York Yankees are 3-peat World Champions for a reason, timely hitting and great pitching. One day after ruining arguably Frank Castillo's best start of the year, they outlasted a tremendous start by Pedro Martinez, dropping the Sox on a 9th inning home run by Bernie Williams to take the game 2-1 at Fenway Park. The Sox have now lost seven in a row and back to back games where the Sox couldn't score off the Yankees.

                                              "God damn Yankees!"

Pedro took the hill in the top of the 1st and Chuck Knoblauch greeted him with a full count single into right. Derek Jeter then sacrifice bunted Knobluach to second base and Bernie Williams moved Chuck to third with a ground out to second. Tino Martinez then struck out on a changeup in the dirt to end the inning. Orlando Hernandez (1-6, 5.43 ERA) got the ball in the bottom of the first. Trot Nixon greeted him with a solo blast over the bullpen, his 21st homer of the year to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. Sadly the Sox would have just four hits the rest of the game. Chris Stynes grounded out to second on a bang bang play then Carl Everett grounded out as well. Ramirez came into the game hitting just .233 in the last 68 games. He's been dealing with a bad hamstring and its no coincidence it got worse when former Sox manager Jimy Williams started putting him in left field. Ramirez lashed a base hit past Jeter into left field. Dante Bichette lined out softly to Alfonso Soriano at second to end the inning.

Jorge Posada looked at strike three on the inside corner to open the top of the second. Pedro then struck out Paul O'Neil with a 2-2 changeup. Shane Spencer then whiffed on a full count to end the inning. Brian Daubach led off the bottom of the second with a walk. Shea Hillenbrand popped up near the first base stands as Fox analyst Joe Buck said Jimy Williams got more out of the Red Sox than anybody could have expected, agreed. Scott Hattberg nearly banged into a double play but Soriano threw the ball away, allowing Scott to reach second. Mike Lansing grounded out to end the inning.

Soriano grounded out to third to open the top of the third inning. Pedro killer Enrique Wilson poked a base hit into center. Knoblauch popped up and Jeter grounded out to short to end the inning. Nixon was robbed of a leadoff hit by Williams to open the bottom of the third. Stynes walked but was erased on the stirke em out, throw em out double play on Everett.

Pedro got Williams to ground out to second to open the top of the fourth inning. Tino Martinez grounded out to first and Posada struck out on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning. The Sox still failed to score off Hernandez in the fourth. Ramirez popped up on a full count, Bichette grounded out and Daubach looked at strike three to end the inning.

Pedro returned for the top of the fifth and blew away O'Neil to begin the inning. Spencer was hit with a pitch but Soriano flied out to shallow right. Wilson grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox once again couldn't score off Hernandez in the bottom of the fifth. Hillenbrand whiffed and Hatteberg popped up to center. Lansing popped up to end the inning.

Rich Garces began warming up as Pedro reached his pitch limit in the top of the sixth. Knoblauch and Jeter grounded out to third and Everett made a great diving catch to rob Williams of a hit to end Pedro's day. The Sox were just 9 outs from giving him a much needed win. The Sox failed to get Pedro any insurance against Hernandez in the bottom of the sixth. Nixon whiffed and Stynes grounded out but Everett walked. Manny then cracked a shot off the top of the Monster that moved Everett to third. That ball was gone in Yankee Stadium. Sure enough Bichette grounded out to end the inning.

"El Guapo" Rich Garces got the ball in the top of the seventh inning. Tino Martinez popped up to right and Posada flied out to left. O'Neil singled and stole second, but Spencer whiffed to end the inning. Hernandez returned for the bottom of the seventh and got Daubach to fly out to left to begin the frame. Hillenbrand grounded out and Hatteberg lined out to end the inning. The Sox had scored one measly run against a pitcher that hadn't won a game all year.

Rather than go to the much maligned Derek Lowe, Sox manager Joe Kerrigan brought in closer Ugueth Urbina for the six out save with Doug Mirabelli taking over behind the plate. Things looked bleak immediately when Stynes lost a routine pop up in the sun, allowing Soriano to take second on a double. Pinch hitter David Justice (for Wilson) flied out to the wall in center, moving Soriano to third. Knoblauch then singled off the Monster to tie the game, but was foolishly thrown out at second trying to stretch into a double. Jeter grounded out to end the inning but the Yankees had tied it.

                      Stynes "Yerrrrr out!"  Knoblauch "We'reeeee tied!"
Hernandez returned for the bottom of the eighth as David Justice moved to left field as Clay Bellinger moved to third. Lansing did manage to single and advance to second on the sacrifice bunt by Nixon. Stynes whiffed and Everett grounded out to end the inning. 8 innings of 1 run ball by a winless pitcher, the epitome of futile for the slumping Red Sox.

Fox was barely back from commercial in the top of the ninth when Bernie Williams blasted a solo home run into center to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. The Yankees had done it again. Urbina recovered to blow away Martinez and Posada then get O'Neil to fly out to end the inning. Mariano Rivera came out for the bottom of the ninth to close it out. Ramirez had hit a game tying homer off of him on June 4...not today! Manny whiffed and Bichette whiffed as the fans began to file out of Fenway Park. Sox manager Joe Kerrigan then made the bizarre move of pinch-hitting Daubach with Izzy Alcantara. Izzy did manage to get a base hit to represent the tying run. Darren Lewis pinch hit for Izzy....but Hillenbrand grounded out to end the game. The Yankees had won it 2-1.

Jackass of the Night is Ugueth Urbina. Staked to a 1-0 lead, he gave up both the game tying and go-ahead runs, losing the game 2-1.

                                                           Urbina you Jackass!



The Good:

Trot Nixon was 1 for 3 with a run scored off his 22nd homer of the year. Manny Ramirez was 2 for 4. Izzy Alcantara singled in his pinch hitting appearance. Mike Lansing was 1 for 3. Pedro Martinez was outstanding, gutting through 6 innings with a bad shoulder. He allowed 2 hits and struck out 6 on pure guile. Rich Garces pitched a scoreless seventh inning.



The Bad:

Dante Bichette and Shea Hillenbrand were both 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 3.



The Ugly:

Chris Stynes was 0 for 3 and lost the ball in the sun during the crucial 8th inning...but walked. Carl Everett was 0 for 3 but walked. Brian Daubach was 0 for 2 with a walk.



Honorable Mention:

Darren Lewis pinch ran for Alcantara in the 9th. Doug Mirabelli caught the top of the ninth inning.




Final Thoughts:

Nothing is going right for the Red Sox at the plate. Pedro Martinez shuts out the Yankees on a bad shoulder, facing a starting pitcher who hadn't won a game all year....AND THEY STILL LOST. It doesn't matter if its Jimy Williams, Joe Kerrigan or Nancy Kerrigan managing this team, they're just not that good. They miss Jason Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra and the normal Pedro Martinez that could go 7-9 innings in the worst way. Carl Everett, Scott Hatteberg, Mike Lansing and Brian Daubach are all hitting under .265 for the season and Manny Ramirez has been hitting .230 the last 2 months. There's your problem right there. The loss dropped the Sox to 71-63, 8 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow David Cone goes for the Sox facing his old team with Mike Mussina going for the Yankees.

Everett Punks Moyer, Mariners Take Game in 11 (8/14/01)

The Boston Red Sox found another way to lose a winnable game again against the AL West leading Seattle Mariners. 3 outs from a 3-2 victory, Derek Lowe crapped his pants once again before the Mariners pounced on the Sox in the 11th. What started with Carl Everett getting some payback against Jamie Moyer ended with a 6-3 Mariners win in 11 innings at Fenway Park.

Hideo Nomo got the start in the top of the first inning and Ichiro Suzuki took strike three to start. Mark McLemore grounded out to second but Edgar Martinez drew a walk. John Olerud whiffed to end the inning. Things got testy against Moyer in the bottom of the first inning although Nomar Garciaparra popped up to second to begin. Chris Stynes flied out to center but Moyer wanted Everett to back off the plate. When Everett refused, Moyer plunked Carl causing him to laugh. When standing on first base, Carl said he'd take Jamie deep. Manny Ramirez popped up to short to end the inning.

                                                     Don't poke the bear

The Mariners struck first in the top of the second inning as Bret Boone doubled past the diving Everett to start. Boone swiped third off the asleep Doug Mirabelli before Mike Cameron jacked a 2 run bomb onto Landsdowne Street to put the Mariners on top. Carlos Guillen whiffed before David Bell doubled high off the Monster. Dan Wilson whiffed before Suzuki popped up to a running Mike Lansing to end the inning with the Mariners ahead 2-0.

                                                    Cameron goes yard

Dante Bichette led off the bottom of the second by getting rung up for strike three. Lansing grounded out to first before Shea Hillenbrand grounded out to short to end the inning.

Nomo got McLemore to pop up to first to start the top of the third but Martinez lined a single to the left field wall. Olerud walked but Boone was rung up for strike three. Cameron whiffed on a full count to end the inning. Cameron leaned into the bullpen to rob a home run from Nixon to start the bottom of the third. Mirabelli drew a walk and Nomar stretched a double off the Monster. Stynes grounded back to the mound and Everett grounded out to third to end the inning.

Guillen grounded out to second to begin the top of the fourth before Bell popped up to center. Wilson popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth although Manny was rung up for strike three to start. Bichette lashed a single to left before Lansing lined a base hit to center that moved Dante to third. Bichette scored on the Hillenbrand sac fly to cut the lead in half. Nixon lined a base hit up the middle but Mirabelli grounded out to third to end the inning with the Mariners still in front 2-1.

                                                      Bichette scored a run

Nomo held the fort in the top of the fifth although Suzuki stuck his bat out and singled to right to start. McLemore singled Ichiro to third but Martinez took strike three on the outside corner. McLemore swiped second before Olerud whiffed. Hillenbrand fell into the Sox dugout to retire Boone to end the inning. That was it for Nomo who lasted just 5 innings but only allowed 2 runs.

                                                  Short and sweet for Nomo

The Sox tied it in the bottom of the fifth although Nomar grounded out to short to start. Stynes popped up to second but Everett made good on his earlier promise by swatting an opposite field home run to tie the game, staring at Moyer as he rounded the bases. Manny hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2.

                                              "Take that, Moyer" - Everett

Rich Garces came on for the top of the sixth and Cameron watched strike three go by to begin. Guillen grounded out to short and Hillenbrand made a great diving stab to rob Bell of a hit to end the inning. Bichette popped up to center to start the bottom of the sixth before Lansing popped up to left. Hillenbrand stuck his bat out and poked a single to right but Nixon flied out to right to end the inning.

Garces came back for the top of the seventh and froze Wilson for strike three to start. Suzuki beat out an infield single to short and then swiped second. McLemore walked but Martinez grounded into a double play to end the inning. Moyer returned for the bottom of the seventh and Mirabelli popped up to right to start. Nomar drew a walk but Stynes flied out to center. Everett popped up to third to end the inning.

Ugueth Urbina took over for the top of the eighth and Olerud doubled to the left field wall to start. Boone dropped down a bunt to move Olerud to third but he stayed there as Cameron grounded out to third. Guillen grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the eighth against Jeff Nelson as Manny doubled off the centerfield wall to start. A wild pitch moved Manny to third but Bichette popped up to second. Lansing popped up to first but Hillenbrand beat out an infield single to third to score Ramirez with the go-ahead run. Nixon worked a walk but Mirabelli struck out looking to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.

                                                Way to go Shea

Derek Lowe came in looking for the save in the top of the ninth but once again crapped his pants. Bell singled to left and Charles Gipson ran for him with Stan Javier pinch hitting for Wilson. Javier singled up the middle and Gipson made it to third. Suzuki singled home Gipson to tie the game as Javier went to third as Lowe was thunderously booed. Sox manager Jimy Williams sprinted out of the dugout with a machine gun and started shooting at Lowe's feet. Lowe ran into the dugout screaming as rookie Casey Fossum took over on the mound after Williams ran off. McLemore walked to load the bases but Martinez popped up to center. Olerud grounded into a double play to end the inning but the game was tied 3-3.

                                                      Mariners tie it up

Tom Lampkin came in to play catcher in the bottom of the ninth and Nomar led off by flying out to center. Stynes watched strike three go by before Everett popped up to left to end the inning, on to extras we go.

Rod Beck took over in the top of the tenth inning and Boone slammed a base hit to right to start. Lansing made a basket catch on a pop up from Cameron but Boone made it to second on the grounder by Guillen. Gipson whiffed to end the inning. Jose Paniagua came in for the bottom of the tenth and the Sox went quietly. Ramirez whiffed, Bichette grounded out to third and Lansing flied out to center to end the inning.

The Mariners put the Sox out of their misery in the top of the 11th inning. Lampkin popped up to third but Suzuki got yet another base hit. Ichiro swiped second before McLemore walked and Martinez settled matters with a 50,000 foot 3 run home run to clear everyone out. Olerud looked at strike three but Boone singled. The alert Mirabelli gunned down Boone trying to steal to end the inning but it was 6-3 Mariners.

                                                          Dammit Beck

Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki came in to close out the bottom of the eleventh and the Sox went quietly. Hillenbrand and Nixon both whiffed before Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Mirabelli. Hatteberg popped up to second to end the game. The Mariners had won it 6-3 in the 11th inning.

Jackass of the Night is Derek Lowe. Yes Rod Beck gave up the 3 run homer but it wouldn't have come to that if Lowe had gotten the job done in the 9th inning.

                                                  Lowe the Jackass


The Good:

Shea Hillenbrand was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.

Hideo Nomo tossed 5 strong innings and allowed just 2 runs.

Rich Garces tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Ugueth Urbina pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Chris Stynes was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Rod Beck took the loss by giving up the 3 run homer in the 11th.



The Ugly:

Nomar Garciaparra was just 1 for 4 but walked.

Carl Everett was just 1 for 4 with a hit by pitch but the one hit was a home run.

Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 5 with a run scored.

Dante Bichette was just 1 for 5 with a run scored.

Mike Lansing was just 1 for 5.

Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but walked.

Doug Mirabelli was 0 for 3 but walked.




Final Thoughts:

Seattle is having one hell of a season and comeback wins like this are the reason why. They seem to be the most complete team in baseball, even better than the New York Yankees it seems. The Sox chased Moyer and got to the bullpen but the Mariners still won. Derek Lowe shouldn't be the closer anymore, especially since they picked up Urbina at the deadline. I don't know what happened to him this year but he's blown at least 6 games that could be the difference in making the playoffs or not come October. Even without Pedro Martinez and Jason Varitek, the return of Nomar should be the spark this team needs to make a run in the second half. As for this game, the less said of it the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 65-52, 4 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look to bounce back when they send Frank Castillo (7-6) to the mound to face Freddy Garcia at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.