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  Sunday, Sep. 24 1:05pm ET
Boston on brink of playoff elimination
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

BOSTON (AP) -- Another day, another loss closer to elimination for the Boston Red Sox.

Rico Brogna
Rico Brogna sums up the mood in Boston, where they know the playoffs now are a pipe dream.

Mike Mussina tied his career high with 15 strikeouts as the Baltimore Orioles beat Boston 1-0 Sunday, the seventh loss in 11 games for the fading Red Sox.

"We were kind of a mediocre team most of the season," ace Pedro Martinez said. "We never got the team really hot where we were on top of everybody."

Boston is five games back in the wild card race and seven games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, with almost no chance of winning either race.

"It is disappointing," closer Derek Lowe said.

Boston got off to a 29-19 start but went 9-18 in June and never recovered. Pitcher Bret Saberhagen and third baseman John Valentin were hurt, respected veterans like Mike Stanley and Jeff Frye departed and center fielder Carl Everett feuded with manager Jimy Williams and teammates.

"The team didn't jell," Scott Hatteberg said. "It seemed there was a lot going on. It was a tough season."

Mussina (10-15) gave up five hits in seven innings and walked none, striking out at least one batter in every inning he pitched. He matched his strikeout high, set Aug. 1 in Minnesota.

He struck out 10 of his first 14 batters, fanning the side in the third, fourth and seventh innings. He threw 107 pitches, 80 for strikes, and was replaced by Mike Trombley in the eighth.

Mussina, bothered by a sore leg, decided to come out of the game, even though he had a chance to break the record of 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, a mark shared by Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood.

"There's always temptation (to stay in), but I've been battling this leg thing for a month and I'd like to make my last (start)," he said.

Ryan Kohlmeier, Baltimore's fourth pitcher, finished for his 12th save in 13 chances, but almost blew it.

Carl Everett, benched Saturday and Sunday by Jimy Williams after showing up late for a game and then criticizing his manager, pinch hit leading off the ninth and walked.

Everett, also bothered by strained quadriceps, was replaced by pinch runner Bernard Gilkey. Hatteberg then singled and Donnie Sadler reached on a bunt single, loading the bases.

Brian Daubach then pinch hit and hit a fly ball to short left field. Delino DeShields caught it and threw out Gilkey, who tagged up and tried to score.

"It was a judgment call," Gilkey said. "Would I try it again on the same ball? I probably would."

Trot Nixon followed with a game-ending flyout.

Tomo Ohka (3-6) gave up one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings, giving up a run in the eighth when pinch-hitter Brady Anderson walked, and pinch runner Jesse Garcia took third on Luis Matos' hit-and-run single and scored on Eugene Kinsales' sacrifice fly off Rich Garces.

Boston loaded the bases in the seventh when shortstop Melvin Mora muffed a potential double-play grounder by Scott Hatteberg for an error, loading the bases with one out. Mussina then struck out pinch-hitter Midre Cummings and Rico Brogna.

Game notes
The Red Sox set a season home attendance record, drawing 2,586,024. That topped the previous mark of 2,562,435 in 1991. ... Mussina also fanned 15 in Game 3 of the 1997 AL championship series. During the regular season, he has 26 games with 10 or more strikeouts. ... ... Nomar Garciaparra extended his hitting streak to a season-high 16 games with an infield single in the seventh. ... After throwing out one of three runners attempting to steal Sunday, Hatteberg has thrown out just seven of 52 runners (13.5 percent) this season. He and catcher Jason Varitek have combined to throw out 30 of 163 runners this year (18.4 percent). ... Mora failed to execute a sacrifice bunt twice for Baltimore, popping out to the catcher in the second inning and bunting into a fielder's choice in seventh. Mora then was caught stealing.
 


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