The Red Sox’ potent bats, so quiet in two losses in Cleveland, exploded at Fenway to tie the series 2-2. The team got another jolt before game 3 when it was announced that Nomar Garciaparra would sit with a sore wrist. But the Sox, behind Ramon Martinez and Derek Lowe, stayed close and put it away with 6 in the seventh for a 9-3 win. John Valentin, hitless in his first 10 at bats, had a tie-breaking homer in the sixth. Val then shook off an error in the top of inning 7 with a two-run double in the bottom half, followed by a three-run shot from Brian Daubach to make it 8-3. Indians starter Dave Burba left after 4 with an injury, and the home squad teed off on relievers Jaret Wright and Roberto Rincon. Martinez went 5 2/3, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs and fanning 6, and Lowe and Rod Beck were effective out of the pen.
The headline for game 4 “Sox Blast Off” , was an understatement, as they set at least 4 offensive postseason records in a 23-7 shellacking. Their 24 hits set a mark, as did the 16-run margin of victory, 7 rbi’s by Valentin, and 14 safeties by the 6-7-8-9 hitters. Beleaguered pitchers Bartolo Colon, Steve Karsay, and Steve Reed allowed 17 hits and 18 runs in the first 4 1/3 innings, as the Tribe already trailed 18-6. Valentin connected for a pair of homers, while Jason Varitek and Jose Offerman had one each. Some stats: Varitek 4 for 5 with 3 rbi’s and 5 runs scored, Val 4 for 5 , Mike Stanley 5 for 6, Darren Lewis 3 for 5, and Trot Nixon 2 for 3 with 5 ribbies. Rich Garces, who relieved starter Kent Mercker in the second, picked up the win. Tim Wakefield, John Wasdin, Rheal Cormier and Tom Gordon also took turns hurling in this unusual game. The 23 runs outscored 19 NFL teams who played on the same day, including the Patriots, who fell 16-14 to Kansas City.
The two squads then headed for Cleveland with the series tied but the Sox with the momentum.
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