Posted on 05/28/2006 6:41:40 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper
BOSTON -- Red Sox batters weren't about to let their starting ace's chance at reaching a milestone on their home turf on Saturday go by the boards -- even if two regular starting outfielders were out of the lineup.
Trot Nixon picked up the slack offensively for cleanup hitter Manny Ramirez, who had the night off, with a two-run, bases-loaded double. Kevin Youkilis played a clean left field, reached base four times and scored three runs as the Red Sox beat the Devil Rays, 6-4, giving Curt Schilling his 200th career win.
"I can't really describe it right now," Schilling said. "I can't really put it into words. That's probably hard for you to believe. Pretty emotional, pretty neat."
Mark Loretta also extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a three-hit performance for Boston, which was also without Wily Mo Pena, who was a late scratch with recurring soreness in his left wrist.
"It was exciting," Loretta said. "I've never seen so many flashbulbs in a game in a ninth inning. It was almost hard to see the ball off the bat. The crowd was into it. I'm really happy for Curt. It was a big milestone for him."
Schilling (8-2) became the eighth active pitcher and 104th ever to reach the plateau. The 39-year-old left after seventh inning to a standing ovation and tipped his cap to the crowd as he made his way down the dugout steps.
Once the game was over, the sold-out Fenway Park crowd kept chanting Schilling's name until he emerged from the clubhouse to receive another standing ovation.
"I just know that walking out on that field after the game is an experience I'll never forget," Schilling said. "I'll never forget what those fans just did for me. Those are the things that when you're done playing, I think, they last forever, the memories that these fans can create for you."
The right-hander became the American League's first eight-game winner by scattering eight hits and allowing four runs over seven innings.
Nixon batted cleanup in place of Ramirez, who was on the bench to rest his back. With the game tied at 2 in the second, Nixon connected to left-center off Tampa Bay starter Seth McClung (2-6), scoring Youkilis and Loretta with the go-ahead runs.
"We scored some runs in that inning with two outs, that's always key, and then Curt was able to shut them down," Loretta said. "That's really our goal and objective at the top of the lineup -- to get on for the guys who normally drive in runs behind us."
"It was good to be out there for it," Youkilis said of being a part of Schilling's special night. "I just wish we could have scored more runs for him in support. Tampa Bay is fearless at times."
The Red Sox got to the Devil Rays right-hander for seven hits and six runs over five innings.
Youkilis also achieved a personal milestone in the game, starting in left field for the first time in his career and handling every chance cleanly. It was the fourth position for the first baseman, who had a chance to throw out Greg Norton in the second inning on a single by Josh Paul, but his throw was just up the first-base line.
"Manny just told me I was playing too deep in the beginning [of the game]," said Youkilis, who used a spare outfielder's glove belonging to Doug Mirabelli. "He said to play more shallow. Other than that, [he said] just catch the ball and throw the ball."
Keith Foulke pitched a perfect eighth and Jonathan Papelbon converted his 18th straight save to start the season, extending his Major League rookie record.
The Red Sox have won the first three games of the four-game set with Tampa Bay and maintain their two-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.
Oh, and no pitcher EVER has had a better season than Petey '00. To further illustrate his dominance, Petey's 1999 season is second on the list of best seasons of all time. Pretty damn nifty.
I miss that Dominican Diva.
I hope the applause is so thunderous when he comes back to Fenway next month that the Mets fans in NYC can hear it.
Sorry, you're right. I think I thought that because I knew that Schill won one of the games in that Series.
That will give the Red Sox a rotation of Beckett, Schilling, Clemens, Wakefield (or Boomer) and Willis. I can't think of a better rotation in recent years.
Just announced, Mike Timlin to the 15-day disabled list. Delcarmen recalled.
sports reporters are a different breed...
Beyond that, they elected Nolan Ryan and he's the same personality type as Schilling....
He will get in, probably not first ballot, but before his initial 15 years are up, assuming nothing big happens, like a mass retirement.
Another 103 strikeouts puts him over 3000.
He will still be on the line even with that but without that it won't happen.
He has the dominance, but he needs just one more stat on his line to get there.
And Kenny already has a perfect game under his belt.
That's for sure. I'm "watching" the game on ESPN Gamecast. Their streak has to end sometime. I have to admit that so far about the Tigers I was wrong. I didn't think they could keep up their hot start. They sure have.
On the other hand, my team (the Astros) got off superbly in April but are a punchline in May. I thought it was supposed to be April that was the cruelest month, but it seems in my experience to be May. Let's hope June is kinder.
A lot of things have come together for the Tigers this year. They've got top notch pitching (unfortunately Maroth is out for several games). If the top of the batting order isn't getting it done, the bottom half seems to be picking up the slack. Finally I think Jim Leyland has really tied it all together in to some fundamentally sound ball playing.
Paydro will likely get more applause than boos. I will remember his dominance of the game for so many years. His one hitter of the Yankees in the house that Steinbrenner mortgaged was a classic. He could throw you a 95mph heater, a 78mph change then snap a curve ball over and you would then take your seat, never having a chance on any of them. The 99 All Star Game was also amazing.
Paydro couldn't beat the Yankees anymore and I think Theo knew it.
Youk's been killing! He's been a great and happy surprise.
check out the top of my FR page :)
I know what Nolan Ryan brings to the table.
That said, Schilling is nearly a lock once he gets to 3000Ks....
Most sportswriters these days break things down into generations.
There are some guys (AROD, Pujols, Big Unit) who have dominated and would have in any generation, but dominating in THIS generation counts for something. Schilling has that.
Like I said it might not be first ballot (it all depends on who he is up against), but he definitely should be in the HOF as of about right now.
Pedro won 3 Cy Youngs. Pedro is Guaranteed the Hall of Fame. Schilling is very, very good but not quite HOF.
It's also about longevity. You can dominate the game but if you don't do it for a long enough period of time then you don't make the HOF.
My proof?
Jim Rice
"Paydro will likely get more applause than boos."
Pedro will be welcomed back...He didn't kneel and kiss the ring of Darth Steinbrenner. He also nearly pitched his arm out of the socket for the Sox.
WMP, too. I think they would have already put WMP on the DL if Crisp were already active.
That will give the Red Sox a rotation of Beckett, Schilling, Clemens, Wakefield (or Boomer) and Willis.
Wells was able to cycle on an exercise bike today. It looks like the worst case scenario is that he misses his start against Cy Young Lilly and the BJs. He looked great the other day. I'd love to have that version of Wells for about 12 starts this year. Our team is really starting to come together. Our defense is ridiculous and our whole lineup is starting to hit (Loretta's early season slump is dead and buried and even A-Gon and Cora are giving us production from SS). Our only soft spot is our MR (and that's an easier thing to fix and lots of teams have issues there-- the MFY are in a worse spot than we in MR). This is a team that is built for the playoffs-- where sketchy outings by Wake, Clement, or Wells aren't as costly because we can send Schill and Beckett out twice and where our infield D can make 4-3 losses into 3-2 wins. We just have to get there!
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