Wakefield, Red Sox Shut Down Tigers in Detroit
Wakefield pitched 7 inning, only allowing 2 runs to earn his 9th victory of the year. He was often in trouble, but managed to pitch his way out of several jams despite not recording a strikeout. The Tigers scored 2 early runs. In the 1st, Dmitri Young hit a bases loaded sac fly and in the 2nd Carlos Guillen had an RBI single. Detroit had 13 hits in the game, but couldn't come through with te big hits they needed. Boston got one back in the third on an Edgar Renteria RBI double, then took the lead in the 6th when Trot Nixon hammered a Gary Knotts fastball into the seats for a 2-run homerun. The Red Sox added an insurance run in the 7th, but the Nixon blast was all they would need. Boston relievers Mike Timlin and Alan Embree pitched a scoreless 8th, while closer Keith Foulke pitched out of a jam in the 9th to record his 29th save. Foulke walked a batter and allowed a single with 2 outs, but was able to strike out Brandon Inge to end the game. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tempers Flare as Kansas City Defeats Boston in Comeback Win
The Red Sox took an early lead, scoring 3 runs in the first two innings. They scored three more in the 5th, knocking Royals starter Jose Lima from the game and taking a 6-run lead. However, in the bottom of the inning the Royals stormed back. They loaded the bases with three straight singles, followed by back-to-back doubles from Mike Sweeney and Matt Stairs. By the end of the inning they had scored six runs and chased Boston starter Curt Schilling from the game. Tempers flared in the 6th after Bronson Arroyo hit David DeJesus with a pitch. DeJesus, who earlier felt like Schilling was pitching too far in, attempted to charge the mound but was immediately tackled from behind by Red Sox catcher and captain Jason Varitek. Both benches cleared but order was quickly restored. DeJesus was ejected. Arroyo took a couple warmup pitches after the incident, but promptly gave up a 3-run homerun to Matt Stairs, putting the Royals ahead 9-6. In the 7th, the Red Sox mounted a comeback when Wood walked Damon and Renteria with the bases loaded. However, Dennis Tankersly came in and was able to retire David Ortiz on a warning track fly ball to end the inning. The Royals threatened again in the bottom of the inning, in which another confrontation took place. Mike Timlin allowed a single and double, leaving first base open. He then hit Neifi Perez with a hard fastball to load the bases. The home plate umpire immediately ejected Timlin, but both benches cleared again and met at the mound to discuss the incident and exchange pleasantries. Mike Myers came in and was able to get out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout and comebacker which he flipped to first base to retire the side. Boston did not threaten again. Royals closer Jeremy Affeldt struck out the side in the 9th to record his AL leading 36th save. Mike Wood got his second win of the year, despite issuing 4 walks and 2 runs in just 2 innings. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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