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By Howard Ulman, AP, Sportswriter :
Strong-armed Vernon Wells fielded back-to-back singles in the bottom of the ninth and fired home both times.The center fielder’s first throw cut down the potential winning run. His second was a split-second late, allowing Manny Ramirez to slide home safely and give the Boston Red Sox a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. One night earlier, the situation was nearly identical.With David Ortiz at second in the ninth, Kevin Youkilis singled to Wells, setting up a likely close play at home. But the ball took a big hop, Wells dropped it and Ortiz scored without drawing a throw to give Boston a 1-0 win. Also for the second straight night, the ninth-inning action followed a brilliant pitching duel. Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings, and Toronto’s Dustin McGowan gave up one run and four hits in 7 1-3 innings. “Our pitching has managed to keep us right there and allow one big hit or two to win a game for us,” Francona said.
Matsuzaka has allowed just 20 hits in six starts covering 35 2-3 innings this season. It was his first game in 12 days, coming after he missed a scheduled start April 23 because of the flu.
Scott Do
wns (0-1) started the bottom of the ninth by allowing a single to Ortiz and a walk to Ramirez.. Mike Lowell then struck out. Brandon Moss then singled to Wells in short center and pinch runner Jed Lowrie raced for the plate. But Rod Barajas blocked it and tagged Lowrie. “I thought I got around him, but Vernon made a great throw and Barajas blocked the plate well,” Lowrie said. Ramirez held up at second as he watched the play and several of his teammates jumped out of the dugout, anticipating a celebration at home. They didn’t have to wait long.
Jason Varitek lined another single to center and Wells came up throwing. Ramirez hustled around third, slid in ahead of the tag and slammed his helmet to the ground after getting up. One group of players pummeled him at the plate while another surrounded Varitek near first.
Wells had the same thought on each of the plays. “Just charge it hard and give yourself a chance to make a good throw,” he said. “The second one was just a little more off than the first.”
Boston has taken the lead in its last at-bat in five of its last six victories. Toronto is 3-11 in its last 14 games.
- Jacoby Ellsbury (groin) and J.D. Drew (quadriceps), neither is in the starting lineup for the second night in a row.
- As for Coco Crisp, Towers balked at Theo Epstein's asking price of Chase Headley.
- MLB.Com Recap (Highlights)
- What's next for outfielder Brad Wilkerson? Two possibilities are the Red Sox and Blue Jays, according to a source.
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008
By Howard Ulman, AP, Sportswriter : Strong-armed Vernon Wells fielded back-to-back singles in the bottom of the...
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