May 22, 2004

Outta Sight. Manny: "When I was in left field, I was thinking I wanted to hit one out because my mom and kids were here at the game. I got all of it." ... Boy did he ever. Micheal Nakamura came out of the pen to start the bottom of the 8th inning. The game was tied 5-5. Nakamura hung a 2-2 breaking ball and Manny crushed it. Looking at the replay, the ball just hung there, suspended in mid-air, belt-high, as if on an invisible tee, for a fraction of a second. Then it was gone. The blast gave the Red Sox the lead and sparked them to abuse four Toronto pitchers for 4 hits and 6 runs.

Bronson Arroyo wasn't sharp, but he kept the Sox in the game. After Josh Phelps opened the fourth inning with a solo home run, tying the game at 4-4, and Eric Hinske doubled, Arroyo retired the next three hitters, preventing further damage. Arroyo threw 96 pitches through six innings and I had no problem with him coming out for the 7th, facing the Blue Jays' 8-9-1 hitters. However, when he surreneed an 0-1 homer to the first batter, Simon Pond, it was time to make a move -- and Tito did. Mike Timlin retired the six batters he faced (on only 19 pitches) and Lenny "Everyday" DiNardo pitched a perfect 9th.

Tizzle: "I'm happy with the contract I have now and I'm even happier knowing I'm going to stick around these guys. This is a beautiful ballclub we have here. This is a good situation when you are still young and when you get the chance to play for ... a team that has the chance to win the World Series. ... I was getting advice from [Pedro], and he told me the best move you can ever make is to stick around this ballclub. He loves the attitude of the people here and he said, 'I recommend you stick around this ballclub.'" (Also here and here)

Damon on the tutoring and early literacy programs at the Boston Public Library: "I had a stuttering problem when I was young. I wasn't a great reader until I got past the third grade. The library system is great to go to get that kind of help. The library system is very dear to me." ... Kevin Youkilis experienced his first game at Fenway Park.

Scott Williamson was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Wednesday) with right elbow inflammation; an MRI showed no serious injury. Francona: "[T]wo weeks of inactivity is better than being gone for two months. We're confident that the 15 days is all it will take." ... An MRI on Bill Mueller's right knee showed mild patellar tendinitis, but he'll keep playing. ... Nomar Garciaparra will take batting practice and do some running for the next three days. After that, he'll face more live pitching.

Pedro/Ted Lilly at 7:05 pm.

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