OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - WIN AT ALL COSTS! The 2004 Boston Red Sox

AZTarHeel · 04-16-2004, 04:56 PM

Whew! Perfect outing for bullpen in rout

The Boston Globe * April 29

Boston fans may have been sweating a little when starter Derek Lowe exited in the top of the seventh with two outs.

Even though the Red Sox held a 10-run lead over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, no lead has seemed safely lately when the bullpen takes over.

Fortunately, Ramiro Mendoza proved as steady as you can be -- tossing a no-hitter for the last 2 1/3 innings -- and the Sox enjoyed a 12-2 bashing of the Rays at Fenway. Mendoza only struck one but got Tampa players to hit a lot of routine grounders and fly-ball outs.

"We've really been letting this team down of late," Mendoza said afterward. "We know how serious management is about winning, so in a sense our job is on the line every time we step out there. We've already seen one pitcher demoted for not getting it done."

Boston plated all of its runs in the first four innings. Ellis Burks, Kevin Millar and Manny Ramirez all homered, with Burks' three-run shot in the fourth giving him a career high six RBIs on the day.

The Sox improve to 15-8 and take a three-game lead in the AL East over Tampa, New York and Baltimore.

For the first time this season, Boston will play a non-division opponent, beginning a series at Texas later today. Pedro Martinez (4-0) is the scheduled starter for the Sox.

04-16-2004, 04:56 PM	#92 (permalink)
AZTarHeel All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,488 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9x in 8 posts	Whew! Perfect outing for bullpen in rout The Boston Globe April 29* Boston fans may have been sweating a little when starter Derek Lowe exited in the top of the seventh with two outs. Even though the Red Sox held a 10-run lead over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, no lead has seemed safely lately when the bullpen takes over. Fortunately, Ramiro Mendoza proved as steady as you can be -- tossing a no-hitter for the last 2 1/3 innings -- and the Sox enjoyed a 12-2 bashing of the Rays at Fenway. Mendoza only struck one but got Tampa players to hit a lot of routine grounders and fly-ball outs. "We've really been letting this team down of late," Mendoza said afterward. "We know how serious management is about winning, so in a sense our job is on the line every time we step out there. We've already seen one pitcher demoted for not getting it done." Boston plated all of its runs in the first four innings. Ellis Burks, Kevin Millar and Manny Ramirez all homered, with Burks' three-run shot in the fourth giving him a career high six RBIs on the day. The Sox improve to 15-8 and take a three-game lead in the AL East over Tampa, New York and Baltimore. For the first time this season, Boston will play a non-division opponent, beginning a series at Texas later today. Pedro Martinez (4-0) is the scheduled starter for the Sox.