| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Unhappy about leaving Comerica Park with a
four-game split, the Boston Red Sox headed home for their most
important series of the season: five games against Cleveland, the
AL wild card leader.
"We have to find a way to win four out of five against
Cleveland," closer Derek Lowe said Sunday after Boston's comeback
fell short in a 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
|  | | Dave Mlicki, 2-1 since coming off the DL Sept. 5, four-hit the Red Sox for seven innings. |
Dave Mlicki pitched four-hit ball for seven innings and Dean
Palmer hit a two-run homer for Detroit.
Boston, which has lost two straight after winning three in a
row, fell 2½ games behind Cleveland, which goes to Fenway Park for
a Tuesday night game followed by back-to-back doubleheaders.
"The whole season basically comes down to one series," Scott
Hatteberg said.
"After you play those five games we'll see where we are,"
manager Jimy Williams said. "We kind of control our own fate."
Mlicki (6-11) gave up one run and left with a 5-1 lead after
allowing doubles by Nomar Garciaparra and Brian Daubach in the
seventh.
"I put in my notes that's about the best I've seen him pitch
all year," Tigers manager Phil Garner said.
Hatteberg hit a two-run homer when he pinch hit in the eighth
off Danny Patterson, and Jason Varitek hit an RBI single in the
ninth off Todd Jones, who struck out Bernard Gilkey to end the game
with the potential tying run on second.
Jones got his team-record 39th save in 42 chances. John Hiller
had 38 saves in 1973.
"It doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people, but it means a lot
to me and a lot to John Hiller and the Tigers. I'm proud to be a
Tiger," Jones said. "I'm just appreciative of the opportunity
they've given me."
Jones converted his first chance since he tied Hiller's mark
Sept. 5 against Anaheim. The Tigers lost nine of their next 11,
falling out of contention.
"Todd's done a terrific job. You all know that," Tigers
manager Phil Garner said. "I'm glad he had a closing situation
today because the longer it lingers, the tougher it is to get."
Ramon Martinez (10-7) failed in his bid to win three straight
decisions for the first time this year, giving up all five runs --
three earned -- and eight hits in five innings.
Detroit went ahead in the second when Tony Clark doubled, and
Brad Ausmus singled.
Palmer made it 3-0 with a 447-foot homer in the fourth after
Juan Gonzalez doubled.
Clark singled in the sixth and Ausmus followed with a single
that scooted past center fielder Darren Lewis and rolled to the
wall as pinch-runner Hal Morris and Ausmus scored.
The play was ruled a single and a three-base error on Lewis, who
had replaced the injured Carl Everett in the fourth. The scoring
decision drew a few boos from fans, who thought Ausmus should have
been given an inside-the-park home run.
"I was surprised it wasn't a home run, but it doesn't matter,"
Ausmus said. "Both runs scored and we won the game."
Lewis said he lost track of the ball.
"It stayed in the stands. It was a low line drive," Lewis
said. "The stands are real low here and you have the glare off the
seats. You could see the infielders flinch when the ball was hit."
Ausmus said once the ball got past Lewis, he thought he could
score. He wasn't angry when he saw the scoring decision by Steve
Lysogorski of Stats Inc. posted on the scoreboard.
"I was out of breath. I didn't have the energy to have a
reaction," he said. "I didn't think I could hit a home run to
center field here -- and apparently I can't."
Game
notes
Everett left with a strained quadriceps after hitting his
face hard on the infield dirt during a head-first slide into second
on a fourth-inning double. Everett started the slide well short of
the bag. His head bounced off the dirt, and he appeared momentarily
stunned but never lost consciousness and walked off with assistance
from a trainer. ... Mlicki is 2-1 since coming off the disabled
list Sept. 5 after a severe sinus infection that required surgery.
... RHP Pedro Martinez (17-5) and brother Ramon are a combined
27-12 for the Red Sox. The rest of Boston's starters are 27-37.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 5
Boston 4
Cleveland 15
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 0
Tampa Bay 0
Seattle 3
Baltimore 2
Toronto 14
Chi. White Sox 1
Minnesota 1
Anaheim 0
Texas 6
Kansas City 5
Cincinnati 8
Milwaukee 4
Montreal 5
NY Mets 0
Philadelphia 6
Florida 5
St. Louis 4
Chicago Cubs 2
Houston 5
Pittsburgh 3
San Francisco 5
San Diego 1
Los Angeles 12
Colorado 6
Atlanta 7
Arizona 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Todd Jones is happy to lead the major leagues with 39 saves.
wav: 87 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Carl Everett says the Red Sox are focused on winning games.
wav: 72 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
