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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- The slumping Boston Red Sox have looked all over
for offense. Manager Jimy Williams found it on his bench.
Pinch-hitters Scott Hatteberg and Bernard Gilkey singled and
pinch-runners Manny Alexander and Darren Lewis scored in a
three-run seventh inning that gave Boston a 4-3 victory Wednesday night
over Tampa Bay.
It made a winner of former Devil Rays right-hander Rolando
Arrojo (2-1), who allowed three hits and two runs in seven innings.
And it was a rare rally for a team that has scored more than four
runs in just seven of 22 games, and is scoreless in the first five
innings of its last three.
"We needed guys that aren't expected to come up with the big
hit to do it," Hatteberg said. "It's the key to our success in
the past and, for us to go on and play in October, we need to do
it. Today was a good sign."
Carl Everett's two-run single drove in Alexander and Jose
Offerman, who walked, putting Boston ahead 3-2 after Hatteberg and
Gilkey singled. Lewis then ran for Gilkey at third and barely beat
left fielder Steve Cox's throw to the plate on Troy O'Leary's
sacrifice fly.
"I was just able to get my foot in there," said Lewis, who
swept his leg across the plate a split-second before catcher John
Flaherty tagged him. "In this ballpark, the more speed the
better."
"It was a case of an outfielder making a good throw, and I
didn't make a good tag," Flaherty said.
The run made the difference when Cox singled home Tampa Bay's
third run in the eighth. He scored the others with a second-inning
triple and a sixth-inning homer, his eighth of the year.
Boston searched throughout the majors for offense, picking up
Gilkey from Arizona, Mike Lansing from Colorado, Rico Brogna from
Philadelphia and Ed Sprague from San Diego in the past two months.
Sprague was designated for assignment Wednesday.
"We need everybody to get going," said Brian Daubach, who
drove in Boston's first run with a single in the sixth. "It's nice
for Carl to get a hit, but one guy can't carry the team."
The Red Sox took advantage of relievers Paul Wilson (0-2) and
Doug Creek after Ryan Rupe left the game with a 2-1 lead after six
innings.
"Those guys pitched themselves out of some jams, but they
couldn't in the seventh," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said.
Derek Lowe got the last four outs for his 27th save in 32
chances.
Rupe struck out four and allowed a walk and seven hits. It
didn't take Wilson long to get in trouble.
After striking out Jason Varitek to start the seventh, he
allowed Hatteberg's single and the walk to Offerman. Creek then
loaded the bases when Gilkey singled.
Everett, who had just 10 hits in his previous 45 at-bats, gave
Boston the lead with his single to center. That moved Gilkey to
third, and Williams sent Lewis in to run.
The move paid off after Nomar Garciaparra was walked
intentionally when Lewis scored on O'Leary's sacrifice fly.
Like the Devil Rays, the Red Sox ran into trouble when they went
to their bullpen. Rod Beck started the eighth by striking out
Gerald Williams. Miguel Cairo singled before Greg Vaughn struck
out, but Fred McGriff's single sent Cairo to second.
Lowe replaced Beck and allowed Cox's RBI single. The threat
ended when Jose Guillen struck out.
Cox gave Tampa Bay the lead when he tripled leading off the
second and scored on Guillen's groundout. After Cox's homer made it
2-0, Boston scored in the bottom of the sixth on O'Leary's triple
and Daubach's single.
But, Williams said, "a lot of players that didn't start the
game contributed."
Game notes
Garciaparra has struggled since one of his closest friends,
3B Lou Merloni, was recalled from Pawtucket of the International
League on Monday. In the infielders' three games since then,
Garciaparra is 1-for-10, while Merloni is 6-for-11. ... Offerman
returned to Boston's lineup after a stint on the disabled list with
a bruised left knee and went 1-for-4. ... Tampa Bay SS Felix
Martinez is in a 3-for-35 slump after going 0-for-2. ... Rupe has
won his last four decisions, one less than the team record set last
season by Wilson Alvarez.
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RECAPS
Toronto 8
Anaheim 6
Boston 4
Tampa Bay 3
Texas 5
NY Yankees 0
Chi. White Sox 7
Baltimore 3
Kansas City 9
Minnesota 3
Detroit 12
Seattle 8
Oakland 7
Cleveland 6
Arizona 5
Philadelphia 1
Atlanta 4
San Diego 1
St. Louis 5
Chicago Cubs 1
Los Angeles 10
Florida 4
San Francisco 4
Montreal 1
Colorado 7
NY Mets 5
Houston 11
Pittsburgh 10
Milwaukee 5
Cincinnati 1
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