| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays did not
need any inside pitches to down the Boston Red Sox.
Albie Lopez allowed only four hits in eight innings as the Devil
Rays beat the Red Sox 3-1 Wednesday night.
|  | | Albie Lopez lowers his ERA to 3.57, second in the AL to Boston's Pedro Martinez (1.68). |
The victory came one day after the two teams were involved a
beanball-filled contest that featured two bench-clearing brawls.
"For me, it's just good to get a win," Lopez said. "I really
wasn't concerned about that. I couldn't allow it to get in my head.
It hurts them a lot more if we get a win."
Lopez (11-9), who nearly missed his start with a strained calf,
tied the Devil Rays record of 21 career victories held by current
Boston pitcher Rolando Arrojo.
The right-hander, who has the AL's second-lowest ERA at 3.57,
struck out six and walked three. Since moving into the rotation on
May 28, Lopez is 9-5.
"He was outstanding," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said.
"He was really limping around badly (Tuesday). He came in today
and said he could go and he did. It's quite a performance."
One day after being one-hit by Pedro Martinez, the Devil Rays
had 11 hits against five Boston pitchers. Bobby Smith snapped an
0-for-21 slump with an RBI single in the third inning.
The Red Sox were held hitless after Nomar Garciaparra opened the
fourth with a single.
Boston's Jeff Fassero (8-8) was dropped from the rotation after
allowing three runs and eight hits over 3 1-3 innings. He will be
replaced by Pete Schourek.
Fassero declined comment after the game.
"It's been a tough series here," Boston's Scott Hatteberg
said. "It's been an emotional one. We all know we can play better.
We've got to get it going, or it's going to end at the end of
September."
A night earlier, eight Devil Rays were ejected. Boston first
baseman Brian Daubach also ended up with a hyperextension of his
left elbow in the fracas.
"We just came back and played baseball," Rothschild said.
"That's nice to just go through a game after last night and have a
normal game. To win it, that's the important thing. That's all they
wanted to do today, come and win. If you really want to hurt a
team, you beat them down the stretch."
Daubach was hurt when he entered a pile of players during a
first-inning brawl that cleared the benches after Martinez hit
leadoff man Gerald Williams with his fourth pitch of the game.
Boston third baseman Lou Merloni also missed Wednesday's game
with a concussion he received in the altercation, but hopes to
return to the lineup Friday.
Roberto Hernandez got the final three outs for his 26th save in
32 chances.
The Devil Rays took two of three from the playoff-contending Red
Sox. Tampa Bay hadn't won a series against a team over .500 since
June 13-15 against Anaheim.
"A lot of crazy stuff happened yesterday," Hernandez said.
"We're in a position where we're going to play these guys and play
a lot teams in the pennant race. If we got something to fight for,
we'll fight for it on the field playing baseball."
Fassero, who complained after being pulled in the sixth inning
of his last outing Friday at Kansas City, was replaced by Hipolito
Pichardo in a one-run game after falling behind Williams 2-1 with
two on and one out.
Williams put the Devil Rays up 3-1 with a run-scoring infield
single off Pichardo.
"It's a manager's decision," Boston skipper Jimy Williams
said. "Sometimes you've got tough decisions to make, and you've
got to make them. I just felt it was the right time to make that
change."
Greg Vaughn, who entered 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts against
Fassero, put Tampa Bay ahead 1-0 with a first-inning double.
After Boston tied it at 1 on Trot Nixon's third-inning RBI
single, Smith put the Devil Rays back on top with a run-scoring
single in their half of the third.
Garciaparra, who entered with an AL-best .370 batting average,
went 2-for-4. His average went up one point to .371.
Game notes
The Devil Rays sent a tape of Tuesday's brawl to the
commissioner's office. "The action of Brian Daubach led to most of
the ejections," Tampa Bay GM Chuck LaMar said. "Brian Daubach did
not conduct himself in a professional manner." ... Jose Offerman
started at first and Manny Alexander at third, replacing Daubach
and Merloni. ... Lopez made his 18th start after 152 consecutive
relief appearances. It was his 49th career start. ... Boston RHP
Tim Wakefield threw two scoreless innings in his first appearance
out of the bullpen since being dropped from the rotation Monday.
... Martinez has the lowest ERA in the AL at 1.68.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Daubach leaves Red Sox to have more tests on hyperextended elbow
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Minnesota 7
Chi. White Sox 8
Oakland 3
Tampa Bay 3
Boston 1
Baltimore 5
Detroit 1
Cleveland 5
Texas 3
Toronto 11
Anaheim 2
NY Yankees 5
Seattle 4
Chicago Cubs 5
San Diego 1
Atlanta 5
Cincinnati 2
St. Louis 4
Florida 2
Arizona 7
Montreal 0
San Francisco 2
Pittsburgh 0
NY Mets 1
Houston 0
Colorado 5
Philadelphia 4
Milwaukee 3
Los Angeles 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Roberto Hernandez wants to ruin pennant hopes for other teams.
wav: 89 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Larry Rothschild says Tampa Bay has a chance to help determine the playoff picture.
wav: 83 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
