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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- Another day, another loss closer to elimination
for the Boston Red Sox.
|  | | Rico Brogna sums up the mood in Boston, where they know the playoffs now are a pipe dream. |
Mike Mussina tied his career high with 15 strikeouts as the
Baltimore Orioles beat Boston 1-0 Sunday, the seventh loss in 11
games for the fading Red Sox.
"We were kind of a mediocre team most of the season," ace
Pedro Martinez said. "We never got the team really hot where we
were on top of everybody."
Boston is five games back in the wild card race and seven games
behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, with almost no chance
of winning either race.
"It is disappointing," closer Derek Lowe said.
Boston got off to a 29-19 start but went 9-18 in June and never
recovered. Pitcher Bret Saberhagen and third baseman John Valentin
were hurt, respected veterans like Mike Stanley and Jeff Frye
departed and center fielder Carl Everett feuded with manager Jimy
Williams and teammates.
"The team didn't jell," Scott Hatteberg said. "It seemed
there was a lot going on. It was a tough season."
Mussina (10-15) gave up five hits in seven innings and walked
none, striking out at least one batter in every inning he pitched.
He matched his strikeout high, set Aug. 1 in Minnesota.
He struck out 10 of his first 14 batters, fanning the side in
the third, fourth and seventh innings. He threw 107 pitches, 80 for
strikes, and was replaced by Mike Trombley in the eighth.
Mussina, bothered by a sore leg, decided to come out of the
game, even though he had a chance to break the record of 20
strikeouts in a nine-inning game, a mark shared by Roger Clemens
and Kerry Wood.
"There's always temptation (to stay in), but I've been battling
this leg thing for a month and I'd like to make my last (start),"
he said.
Ryan Kohlmeier, Baltimore's fourth pitcher, finished for his
12th save in 13 chances, but almost blew it.
Carl Everett, benched Saturday and Sunday by Jimy Williams after
showing up late for a game and then criticizing his manager, pinch
hit leading off the ninth and walked.
Everett, also bothered by strained quadriceps, was replaced by
pinch runner Bernard Gilkey. Hatteberg then singled and Donnie
Sadler reached on a bunt single, loading the bases.
Brian Daubach then pinch hit and hit a fly ball to short left
field. Delino DeShields caught it and threw out Gilkey, who tagged
up and tried to score.
"It was a judgment call," Gilkey said. "Would I try it again
on the same ball? I probably would."
Trot Nixon followed with a game-ending flyout.
Tomo Ohka (3-6) gave up one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings,
giving up a run in the eighth when pinch-hitter Brady Anderson
walked, and pinch runner Jesse Garcia took third on Luis Matos'
hit-and-run single and scored on Eugene Kinsales' sacrifice fly off
Rich Garces.
Boston loaded the bases in the seventh when shortstop Melvin
Mora muffed a potential double-play grounder by Scott Hatteberg for
an error, loading the bases with one out. Mussina then struck out
pinch-hitter Midre Cummings and Rico Brogna.
Game notes
The Red Sox set a season home attendance record, drawing
2,586,024. That topped the previous mark of 2,562,435 in 1991. ...
Mussina also fanned 15 in Game 3 of the 1997 AL championship
series. During the regular season, he has 26 games with 10 or more
strikeouts. ... ... Nomar Garciaparra extended his hitting streak
to a season-high 16 games with an infield single in the seventh.
... After throwing out one of three runners attempting to steal
Sunday, Hatteberg has thrown out just seven of 52 runners (13.5
percent) this season. He and catcher Jason Varitek have combined to
throw out 30 of 163 runners this year (18.4 percent). ... Mora
failed to execute a sacrifice bunt twice for Baltimore, popping out
to the catcher in the second inning and bunting into a fielder's
choice in seventh. Mora then was caught stealing.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Baltimore Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 1
Boston 0
NY Yankees 6
Detroit 3
Tampa Bay 6
Toronto 0
Kansas City 9
Cleveland 0
Minnesota 6
Chi. White Sox 5
Anaheim 9
Texas 2
Seattle 3
Oakland 2
Cincinnati 4
Houston 3
Atlanta 14
Montreal 5
NY Mets 3
Philadelphia 2
Milwaukee 8
Pittsburgh 5
Chicago Cubs 10
St. Louis 5
Colorado 9
Florida 3
Arizona 8
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 1
San Diego 0
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