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06-15-2003, 09:05 PM
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by Ian Browne @ MLB.com (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/news/bos_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20030615&content_id=375841&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos)
Red Sox work overtime for sweep
Ramirez base hit wins it in 14th
BOSTON -- Manny Ramirez provided the long-awaited finale early Sunday evening at Fenway Park. He ripped an RBI single to right-center, scoring Todd Walker from second and ending the game with one out in the bottom of the 14th inning.
That was the emphatic capper for the Red Sox in a 3-2 victory that wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Astros.
It was the end of a 1-for-5 afternoon for Ramirez.
Ironically, he was set up by Nomar Garciaparra, who surprisingly laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Walker up 90 feet.
With Garciaparra producing a career-high four extra-base hits on the day, a bunt isn't something you would have expected.
But it turned out to be just what the Sox needed to finish a game that had endless twists.
Earning the win for the Sox was rookie Jason Shiell, who worked a scoreless 14th inning. In all, the Sox' much-maligned bullpen threw eight scoreless innings.
The Sox seemingly had the chance of all chances to end the game in the bottom of the 11th.
Garciaparra came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out off Astros right-hander Octavio Dotel. However, he popped out to shallow center, leaving it up to Ramirez with two outs.
Ramirez grounded to third, allowing the Astros to exhale.
Byung-Hyun Kim and Wade Miller were both sharp over the first three innings, leaving the game in a scoreless tie.
Richard Hidalgo changed that in a hurry, pummeling a two-run homer over the Green Monster and on to Lansdowne Street in the top of the fourth.
The Sox got a little something going in the fifth. Trot Nixon led off with a single to right and scored on a two-out double to left by Bill Mueller. Todd Walker laced a single to right that look like it was going to tie the game. But Hidaldo fired a one-hop strike to the plate, nailing Mueller.
In the sixth, the Sox applied more pressure on Miller. Nomar Garciaparra led off with a triple to right. The tough afternoon sun completely blinded Hidalgo, enabling Garciaparra to establish a career-high with his Major League-leading 12th triple.
Manny Ramirez brought Garciaparra home with a sacrifice fly to right, tying the game at 2-2.
In the seventh, the Astros threatened to pull ahead. Brad Ausmus struck a single to center. Then Craig Biggio put down a bunt, and Kim moved quickly to pick it up and throw to first, with second baseman Todd Walker covering. But first base umpire Marty Foster ruled that Walker was off the bag.
Red Sox manager Grady Little didn't think so, and his opinion was clearly backed up by television replays. The normally mild-mannered Little argued so strongly that he was ejected from the game.
At that point, Mike Timlin came on in place of Kim and did a strong job to get out of the inning. He got Geoff Blum on a fly to left and induced Jeff Bagwell into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Kim (six-plus innings, seven hits, two earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts) and Miller (six innings, seven hits, two earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts) had almost identical afternoons.
From there, it was left in the hands of the bullpens.
Brad Lidge (two innings, four strikeouts), Billy Wagner (one inning, two strikeouts) and Octavio Dotel (two scoreless) certainly held up their end for the Astros. Mike Timlin (two scoreless innings), Brandon Lyon (two shutout innings, four K's) and Alan Embree (three scoreless) did the same for the Sox
It was Embree's first three-inning appearance since June 22, 2002, when he was making his final appearance for San Diego before being traded to Boston.
by Ian Browne @ MLB.com (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/news/bos_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20030615&content_id=375841&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos)
Red Sox work overtime for sweep
Ramirez base hit wins it in 14th
BOSTON -- Manny Ramirez provided the long-awaited finale early Sunday evening at Fenway Park. He ripped an RBI single to right-center, scoring Todd Walker from second and ending the game with one out in the bottom of the 14th inning.
That was the emphatic capper for the Red Sox in a 3-2 victory that wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Astros.
It was the end of a 1-for-5 afternoon for Ramirez.
Ironically, he was set up by Nomar Garciaparra, who surprisingly laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Walker up 90 feet.
With Garciaparra producing a career-high four extra-base hits on the day, a bunt isn't something you would have expected.
But it turned out to be just what the Sox needed to finish a game that had endless twists.
Earning the win for the Sox was rookie Jason Shiell, who worked a scoreless 14th inning. In all, the Sox' much-maligned bullpen threw eight scoreless innings.
The Sox seemingly had the chance of all chances to end the game in the bottom of the 11th.
Garciaparra came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out off Astros right-hander Octavio Dotel. However, he popped out to shallow center, leaving it up to Ramirez with two outs.
Ramirez grounded to third, allowing the Astros to exhale.
Byung-Hyun Kim and Wade Miller were both sharp over the first three innings, leaving the game in a scoreless tie.
Richard Hidalgo changed that in a hurry, pummeling a two-run homer over the Green Monster and on to Lansdowne Street in the top of the fourth.
The Sox got a little something going in the fifth. Trot Nixon led off with a single to right and scored on a two-out double to left by Bill Mueller. Todd Walker laced a single to right that look like it was going to tie the game. But Hidaldo fired a one-hop strike to the plate, nailing Mueller.
In the sixth, the Sox applied more pressure on Miller. Nomar Garciaparra led off with a triple to right. The tough afternoon sun completely blinded Hidalgo, enabling Garciaparra to establish a career-high with his Major League-leading 12th triple.
Manny Ramirez brought Garciaparra home with a sacrifice fly to right, tying the game at 2-2.
In the seventh, the Astros threatened to pull ahead. Brad Ausmus struck a single to center. Then Craig Biggio put down a bunt, and Kim moved quickly to pick it up and throw to first, with second baseman Todd Walker covering. But first base umpire Marty Foster ruled that Walker was off the bag.
Red Sox manager Grady Little didn't think so, and his opinion was clearly backed up by television replays. The normally mild-mannered Little argued so strongly that he was ejected from the game.
At that point, Mike Timlin came on in place of Kim and did a strong job to get out of the inning. He got Geoff Blum on a fly to left and induced Jeff Bagwell into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Kim (six-plus innings, seven hits, two earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts) and Miller (six innings, seven hits, two earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts) had almost identical afternoons.
From there, it was left in the hands of the bullpens.
Brad Lidge (two innings, four strikeouts), Billy Wagner (one inning, two strikeouts) and Octavio Dotel (two scoreless) certainly held up their end for the Astros. Mike Timlin (two scoreless innings), Brandon Lyon (two shutout innings, four K's) and Alan Embree (three scoreless) did the same for the Sox
It was Embree's first three-inning appearance since June 22, 2002, when he was making his final appearance for San Diego before being traded to Boston.