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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON -- The Cleveland Indians came into Fenway Park to
boost their playoff chances. While their fate is uncertain, they
just about destroyed Boston's hopes to return to the playoffs.
|  | | Boston's Troy O'Leary, right, gets congratulated after tying Thursday's game with a three-run homer in the third inning. |
An 8-5 win in the second game of Thursday's second straight day-night doubleheader gave Cleveland the series 3-2 and dropped the Red Sox four games behind the AL wild-card leading Indians with nine to play.
"It's been such a tight race the last month-and-a-half, this
wild-card thing, it's good to put a team behind you," said Chuck Finley (14-11), who won for the fourth time in five starts, allowing three runs and nine hits in seven innings.
Cleveland's main concerns are Oakland, the team it is tied with
for the wild-card lead, and Toronto, which trails by 2½ games.
Boston's last home series against Baltimore this weekend doesn't
mean much anymore.
"Our chances are fading a little bit," Darren Lewis said. "Every year, you're not going to win."
The Red Sox, who last won the World Series in 1918, took
Thursday's opener 9-8 after Cleveland wasted a 7-0, first-inning
lead. In the second game, the Indians didn't waste another big
inning, scoring six with two outs in the sixth.
"We got some runs with two outs," Cleveland manager Charlie
Manuel said. "In order to win big games, that's what it takes."
Russell Branyan and Kenny Lofton had two RBIs each in the second
game and Travis Fryman went 4-for-5.
Tim Wakefield (6-10) allowed six runs _ five earned -- and eight
hits in 5 2/3 innings. Boston scored two runs each in the eighth
and ninth, but fell short.
After being swept by the Indians 2-1 and 5-4 on Wednesday,
Boston had to deal with a pregame clubhouse outburst by Carl
Everett, who shouted at Lewis. The center fielders were kept apart
by coaches Tommy Harper and Jim Rice.
Everett, who didn't start any games in the series because of a
strained left quadriceps, showed up late and told manager Jimy
Williams he couldn't play. The confrontation took place after Lewis
met with Williams and replaced Everett in the lineup. General
manager Dan Duquette said Everett wouldn't be disciplined.
"Any time you are on a winning team, one that has been in the
playoffs, and you get in the situation we are, tempers will flare
and frustration will show," Boston outfielder Trot Nixon said.
The outburst occurred as Bryce Florie visited the clubhouse for
the first time since suffering right eye damage and broken facial
bones when he was hit by a line drive Sept. 8.
He said his prognosis was improved but it's too early to tell if
he will play again.
"Good to see Bryce," Williams said. "That may have been the
best part of the whole day."
The second game wasn't.
Boston went ahead on Donnie Sadler's sacrifice fly in the
second, but Lofton hit a two-run double in the third. The Indians
chased Wakefield in the sixth when Fryman singled in a run, and
Branyan's two-run double made it 5-2.
Hector Carrasco relieved and allowed RBI singles to Sandy
Alomar, Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar.
The Red Sox scored in the eighth on Dante Bichette's sixth homer
and Lou Merloni's RBI single but left runners at second and third
when pinch hitter Everett struck out. Bichette hit an RBI grounder
in the ninth and Midre Cummings singled in a run.
"We just keep playing the schedule," Williams said. "You know
the numbers."
The first game was more satisfying for the Red Sox.
"Down a touchdown after the first inning is kind of tough,"
said Derek Lowe, who got his 38th save in 43 opportunities. "We could have packed it in and said, 'Well, we've had a good year,
let's try it next year,' but we didn't."
Boston scored twice in the first, then took the lead when Justin
Speier (4-2) walked Jose Offerman with the bases-loaded in a
six-run third.
Troy O'Leary led Boston with a three-run homer, a double and
four RBI. Nomar Garciaparra went 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly.
After Boston went ahead 9-7, David Segui pulled the Indians
within a run with an RBI single in the eighth.
Steve Ontiveros (1-1), who replaced Rolando Arrojo, got his first win in five years with 2 1/3 innings of two-hit, shutout
relief. On Saturday, in his first major-league game in five
seasons, the 1994 AL ERA champion allowed six runs in one inning
against Detroit.
Arrojo retired the game's first two batters then loaded the
bases on three walks before Segui and Fryman hit two-run doubles,
David Roberts walked and, after a double steal, Einar Diaz singled
in two runs. Lofton added an RBI single off Ontiveros.
Boston made it 7-2 in the bottom half and Nixon homered leading
off the third. Offerman and Bichette walked, and Garciaparra
singled in a run. Cameron Cairncross relieved and O'Leary tied the
game with his 12th homer.
Boston loaded the bases again on singles by Merloni and Lewis,
and a walk to Nixon, and Offerman walked to force in the go-ahead
run.
Game notes
Manny Ramirez reached in both games, stretching his streak
to 47 games. ... Cleveland first-game starter Jason Bere allowed
six runs and four hits in two-plus innings, while Arrojo gave up
seven runs, three hits and four walks in two-thirds of an inning.
... Manuel was ejected in the seventh inning of the opener by
first-base umpire Lance Barksdale after arguing when Lofton was
called out on a grounder.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
Florie's return marred as Everett, Lewis squabble
RECAPS
Boston 9
Cleveland 8
Cleveland 8
Boston 5
(2nd game)
Toronto 3
NY Yankees 1
Kansas City 8
Anaheim 3
Chi. White Sox 9
Minnesota 4
Oakland 5
Seattle 2
Houston 7
St. Louis 5
Montreal 10
Florida 3
Colorado 13
San Diego 4
Philadelphia 6
NY Mets 5
Milwaukee 12
Pittsburgh 2
San Francisco 8
Arizona 7
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Roberto Alomar feels that his team has overcome a big challenge.
wav: 118 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Chuck Finely thinks that his team has given itself a little room.
wav: 244 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
No lead is safe at Fenway, according to Indians manager Charlie Manuel.
wav: 123 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jason Varitek is happy to see his team battle back.
wav: 128 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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