[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour had never really heard of former Major League pitchers Dick Hughes, Charlie Root and Junior Thompson before Game Four of the 2002 World Series.

But Big Z would soon learn plenty about them as he wiped the three out of the World Series record books. Hughes, Root and Thompson each gave up four home runs in a single World Series game, back in 1967, 1932 and 1939, respectively. No one had else had surrendered more until Zarzour did them one better on Oct. 29, 2002 — surrendering a whopping FIVE long balls before being relieved in the fourth inning.

It turns out Coach Innis was right about Zarzour. He certainly wasn't sharp. He was healthy, just grooving things right in there for Red Sox hitters to knock them all over Fenway.

Brian Giles led off the bottom of the first inning for Boston by knocking a Zarzour offering 368 feet into the right field seats. Big Z gave up singles to Midre Cummings and Paul Konerko as well in the inning, but Nomar Garciparra grounded into a double play. Then Zarzour fanned Larry Walker (whew) to end the inning. Maybe Z would settle down from there, as has been his custom?

Nope. Scott Hatteberg led off the bottom of the second with another HR off Zarzour. Frank Catalanotto popped one right back to Zarzour, but the Dodgers' big left-hander allowed John Valentin to go yard next.

LA manager Jim Tracy probably should have pulled Big Z at this point. But he rolled the dice and left him in. And there were more Boston fireworks.

Zarzour hit Donnie Sadler with a pitch (ticked off at his bad start, perhaps?), then Brian Giles made him pay for that free base-runner, hitting his second home run of the game. Boston led 5-0, and it was only by grace that the lead wasn't more substantial. Zarzour gave up two more singles before finally getting out of the frame. Larry Walker got the last out (at least Z had his number on this night).

Here is where things got really interesting. LA managed to get four of its runs back in the top of the third. So Tracy stuck with Zarzour, who repeatedly told his manager to allow him the chance to redeem himself. Big Z did OK in the third frame, with relievers getting warm in the pen, allowing a single to Catalanotto and that's it.

LA then jumped ahead 7-5 against Boston's equally-as-embattled starter Derek Lowe. Could Zarzour actually get a win despite tying the record for most home runs surrendered in a World Series game?

Alas, no.

Zarzour got the first two batters of the fourth inning out. But then Nomar went yard on him, stroking one 424 feet (ouch!) to deep center field. Konerko singled, and that was it for our boy Zarzour. Byung-Hyun Kim came in to relieve his drooping 7-foot-2 teammate, and despite giving up an RBI double to Larry Walker, got out of the inning without allowing the Sox to retake the lead.

As LA went to bat in the top of the fifth inning, the game was tied 7-7. And Zarzour had himself a World Series record, albeit one he'd just as soon have not ever heard of...