Jays starter Chris Michalak got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jose Offerman grounded out to short to start. Brian Daubach flied out to center and Carl Everett grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Nomo got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Shannon Stewart grounded out to second to start. Alex Gonzalez popped up to second and Carlos Delgado struck out swinging to end the inning.
Manny Ramirez popped up to short to start the top of the second but Dante Bichette doubled to left. Troy O'Leary struck out swinging and Shea Hillenbrand flied out to center to end the inning. Raul Mondesi grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the second and Jose Cruz took strike three. Brian Simmons grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third as Jason Varitek lined out to left to start. Mike Lansing doubled to left and Offerman got a base hit up the middle to score him. Daubach grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Tony Batista struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Darrin Fletcher flied out to left. Homer Bush grounded out to third to end the inning.
Everett grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth and Ramirez flied out to right. Bichette walked but was picked off to end the inning. Stewart lined out to second to start the bottom of the fourth and Gonzalez struck out swinging. Delgado struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth as O'Leary popped up to short to start. Hillenbrand popped up to third but Varitek smashed his sixth home run of the year to increase the lead. Lansing got a base hit to center but Offerman forced him at second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The Jays answered in the bottom of the fifth although Hillenbrand made a great diving catch to rob Mondesi of a hit. The perfect game was broken up when Cruz beat out an infield single to short. Simmons got a base hit to right and both runners moved over on a passed ball. Batista singled in the hole at short to score Cruz and Simmons moved to third on a fly ball to right by Fletcher. Bush walked to load the bases but Stewart popped up to second to end the inning with the Jays down 2-1.
The Sox looked to have the game wrapped up in the top of the sixth when Daubach singled to right to start. Everett forced him at second then Manny hit his 16th home run of the season to the opposite field. Bichette flied out to right and O'Leary struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Nomo fell apart in the top of the sixth when Gonzalez hit a home run all the way to Montreal to cut the lead. Delgado walked and Sox manager Jimy Williams felt that was enough for Nomo after 5 1/3 innings and 2 runs allowed. "El Guapo" Rich Garces came in and Mondesi grounded out to second to move Delgado to second. Cruz struck out swinging but Simmons walked. Batista struck out swinging to end the inning with the Jays down 4-2.
Kelvim Escobar came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Hillenbrand grounded out to short to start. Varitek flied out to left but Lansing struck out swinging to end the inning. The wheels fells off in the bottom of the seventh as Fletcher got a base hit to center. Bush singled to left and that was it for Garces. Rod Beck came in to stop the bleeding and did the opposite. Stewart hit a three run home run completely out of the Skydome to put the Jays on top. Gonzalez grounded out to short and Delgado flied out to center, but Mondesi tripled into the centerfield gap. Cruz flied out to left to end the inning with the Jays ahead 5-4.
Suddenly the Sox rallied in the top of the eighth as Offerman got a base hit to center to start. Daubach also got a base hit to center and both runners moved over on a grounder to first by Everett. Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases and Bichette made them pay with a sac fly to right to score Offerman to tie the game. Dan Plesac came in to face O'Leary for the lefty on lefty....and walked him to re-load the bases. Old friend Paul Quantrill came in to face Hillenbrand but wait! Jimy Williams countered by bringing in Trot Nixon to pinch hit. Nixon got plunked to score Daubach with the go-ahead run and Varitek stoked a 2 run opposite field base hit to increase the lead. Lansing struck out looking to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 8-5.
John Valentin came in for Bichette's spot while playing third and Craig Grebeck came in to play short for Lansing with Nixon now in right for the bottom of the eighth. Simmons grounded out to second, Batista flied out to center and Fletcher flied out to left to end the inning.
Jays closer Billy Koch came in to take a beating in the top of the ninth as Offerman grounded out to second to start. Daubach took strike three but Everett got a base hit to center. Ramirez got a base hit to center to move Everett to third and Valentin followed with a single to center as well to score Carl. O'Leary doubled to left to score Ramirez and chase Koch from the game. Pedro Borbon Jr struck Nixon out swinging with the Sox ahead 11-5.
Rolando Arrojo came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Bush struck out swinging to start. Stewart took strike three and Gonzalez grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 11-5.
Hero of The Night is Trot Nixon. His bases loaded hit by pitch put the Sox up for good.
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Brian Daubach was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Manny Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a walk, a 2 run home run and 3 total runs scored.
Dante Bichette was 1 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.
John Valentin singled, scored and drove in two runs.
Jason Varitek was 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 total rbis.
Mike Lansing was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Hideo Nomo allowed just 2 runs in 5 innings off 4 hits and 2 walks.
Rolando Arrojo pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Shea Hillenbrand was 0 for 3.
Rich Garces allowed 2 runs in an inning of work.
The Ugly:
Carl Everett was just 1 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.
Rod Beck vultured the win by allowing a run in 2 innings of work.
Honorable Mention:
Craig Grebeck played shortstop in the final two innings.
Final Thoughts:
That game was a mixed bag for sure. The pitching was concerning with Garces and Beck getting shelled and Nomo didn't do very well either. On the other hand the offense was smoothly operating thanks to the efforts of just about everyone. After the offense failed miserably last year, adding Ramirez and keeping Bichette is paying dividends already. Just have to hold the fort until Nomar Garciaparra comes back and this might be the most deadliest offense in baseball with a 3-4-5 of Nomar, Ramirez and Everett. Just have to keep everyone healthy. On the other side of the ball, the Sox need to fix their pitching woes because they've vastly underperformed. Both the rotation and the bullpen need to pick things up if the Sox want to hang on to first place and see October again. The win improved the Sox to 29-22, tied for first place in the AL East with the New York Yankees. The Sox look to make it 3 wins in a row and second straight against the Blue Jays tomorrow night when Frank Castillo (5-3, 3.74 ERA) takes on Steve Parris of Toronto. The game begins at 7:07 PM at the Skydome.
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