| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- Rico Brogna gave the Boston Red Sox an ending so
exciting that they were almost able to forget how the game started.
Brogna hit a ninth-inning grand slam to give Boston a 7-3
victory over Tampa Bay on Monday night, rescuing the Red Sox after
Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez left after four innings with
shoulder stiffness.
|  | | Rico Brogna has gone from the Phillies' bench to the Boston spotlight after his grand slam in the ninth gave the Red Sox a 7-3 win over Tampa Bay. |
"Obviously, he's the man here. So everybody's a little
concerned," said Brogna, a Turners Falls, Mass., native who joined
the Red Sox early this month. "If the team's going to go where we
want to go, he's got to be healthy."
Martinez struck out the side in the first inning and fanned two
more in the second. But in the third, he allowed Miguel Cairo's
first homer since July 20, 1999 -- a three-run shot that gave the
Devil Rays a 3-0 lead.
Martinez allowed six hits, walked none and struck out six before
Hipolito Pichardo came on to start the fifth. It was his worst
outing in more than a year.
Martinez told reporters after the game that he will not have an MRI and that he does not consider the problem serious. He said the stiffness might have been the result of sleeping on the shoulder Sunday night.
"I just had a stiff shoulder. It just didn't feel right," he said. "I didn't want to chance it."
A Red Sox spokesman said Martinez was day to day and that the team had not indicated whether he will receive further exams Tuesday.
"When a guy makes his money throwing 95-mph fastballs, you know
he's hurting when he's throwing you nothing but changeups," Devil
Rays first baseman Fred McGriff said.
The Red Sox tied it with three runs in the sixth inning, then
won it in the ninth.
Billy Taylor (1-2) hit No. 9 hitter Darren Lewis leading off the
inning. Lewis stole second and took third on Trot Nixon's flyout,
then Taylor intentionally walked both Carl Everett and Nomar
Garciaparra to load the bases.
Brogna worked the count to 2-2 and then lined the final pitch
into the bullpen in right field. It was his first home run since
coming to the Red Sox early this month and his second homer in the
AL. Brogna hit one for the Detroit Tigers in 1992.
The sold-out crowd, which sat through a game-long drizzle,
chanted his name until he came out of the dugout for a curtain
call.
"It's been a rollercoaster of emotions," said Brogna, who lost
his starting job at first base with Philadelphia after breaking his
forearm and was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox. "A night like
this makes it all worthwhile."
Derek Lowe (3-4) earned the victory with one inning of scoreless
relief.
Martinez lasted four innings in Game 1 of Boston's first-round
playoff series against Cleveland before leaving with shoulder
stiffness, but he returned to throw six no-hit innings of relief in
Game 5.
He lasted just 3 2/3 innings on July 18, 1999, against he
Florida Marlins, allowing nine runs -- seven earned -- and 12 hits.
He went on the disabled list after that game.
That was his first outing after the All-Star Game, when he
struck out five of six batters and was voted MVP.
The Red Sox tied it in the sixth inning when Everett singled,
stole second and took third when catcher John Flaherty's throw went
into center field for the first of Tampa Bay's four errors.
Garciaparra lofted a fly ball to center and Gerald Williams dropped
it for another error.
Brian Daubach followed with a double to make it 3-2, Lou Merloni
bunted him to third and Scott Hatteberg tied it with a sacrifice
fly.
Game notes
Devil Rays starter Dave Eiland hasn't won since April 23,
though that includes a 2½-month stint on the disabled list. ... The
Devil Rays had won five consecutive road games, one short of the
franchise record. They went 7-6 on their most recent homestand --
the first time in club history they had a winning homestand and
road trip consecutively. ... The Red Sox purchased Merloni's
contract from Triple-A Pawtucket and placed Izzy Alcantara on the
15-day disabled list with a strained lower back. Merloni played for
the Red Sox in 1999, hitting .254 with one homer and 13 RBI before
signing with the Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Central League in the
off-season. ... By striking out five in the first two innings,
Martinez moved into the top 10 in strikeouts for the Red Sox.
Martinez has 774; Dennis Eckersley and Dutch Leonard were tied for
10th with 771. ... The crowd of 32,174 was the 41st sellout of the
season, 31st in a row.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 7
Tampa Bay 3
Baltimore 8
Chi. White Sox 2
NY Yankees 7
Texas 3
Oakland 8
Cleveland 1
Detroit 15
Seattle 4
Florida 11
Los Angeles 2
Colorado 4
Montreal 3
San Francisco 11
NY Mets 1
Arizona 4
Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 9
San Diego 2
Chicago Cubs 7
St. Louis 3
Houston 16
Pittsburgh 2
Milwaukee 4
Cincinnati 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Peter Gammons gives his analysis of Pedro Martinez's injury.
avi: 2390 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 It was a dream come true for Rico Brogna, who hit a walk-off grand slam in the 9th for the Red Sox.
wav: 179 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Manager Jimy Williams comments on Pedro Martinez' ailing shoulder.
wav: 230 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
ESPN's Rick Sutcliffe talks about the status of Pedro Martinez.
wav: 1439 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
