Sox 99 – September Surge

Boston’s late-August surge continued into September, as they swept three from the struggling Kansas City Royals and split a four-gamer with Seattle.

Pedro Martinez took care of things in the opener, fanning 11 and walking one while allowing 4 hits and a run in 6 frames as the Sox breezed 7-1. They broke open a 2-1 contest with 4 in the fifth on 3 hits and 2 errors, with Butch Huskey plating 2. The Townies slammed former Soxer Jeff Suppan for 7 hits and 6 runs in 4 2/3. Jose Offerman led the 14-hit attack with 4-for-4, while Huskey contributed 3. The onslaught continued the following night, as the home squad pounded out 11 hits off Jay Witasick and three relievers to triumph 6-3. The Sox broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh on a Mike Stanley sacrifice fly and a two-run double by Troy O’Leary. Rich Garces (3-1) got the win, Derek Lowe the save.

The Bosox had picked up Rod Beck from the Cubs in a effort to shore up their bullpen, and he combined with another newcomer, Kent Mercker, to complete the sweep by a 4-3 count. The Sox jumped out 4-0 after four, but the visitors made it close with 3 in the seventh on miscues by Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Frye. Mercker went 6-plus innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run while walking 6 and fanning 5 to pick up the victory. Beck set KC down 1-2-3 in the ninth to cop the save.

Pedro’s older brother Ramon, a Dodgers mainstay for a number of years, had suffered a torn rotator cuff an torn cartilage in early 98 and required season-ending surgery. LA decided not to pick up his option and the Sox signed him over the winter. After spending most of the year rehabbing in the minors, he made his first Boston start in the opener of a four-game series in Seattle. Ramon went 3-plus innings, allowing 5 hits and 4 runs while throwing 61 pitches. Though Tim Wakefield took over and hurled 6 scoreless frames, it was enough for a 4-2 Mariners win. The Sox were held in check by starter and winner Mac Suzuki and a pair of relievers.

The home squad took another close one the following night. Garciaparra broke open a scoreless game with a seventh-inning solo homer, but Seattle would tie on an unearned tally in the bottom half. In the ninth, an Edgar Martinez infield hit, stolen base, and Dan Wilson single produced a walkoff win. Former Soxer Jamie Moyer went the distance, allowing only 3 hits to run his mark to 13-6.

The Sox would bounce back, however, to take the next two. First Pedro won his 20th, going 8 shutout frames and fanning 15 in a 4-0 triumph. Garciaparra provided Pedey all he needed with a three-run homer in the fourth. His record was now 20-4 with a 2.26 ERA. The following night produced a 9-7 victory. Boston overcame a 6-4 deficit with 5 runs on 6 hits in the eighth, featuring a three-run homer by Varitek, his second of the night. Nomar also blasted one in a 13-hit attack on 4 Seattle hurlers. Still leading the AL in hitting at .354 (Derek Jeter was a point behind), he went 4 for 5. Lowe picked up save 11.

The Bosox had now taken 9 of 12 and, at 77-60, led Oakland by 2 in the wild card. Varitek, being heralded in “The Next Generation of Sox Catchers”, was a solid .266 with 15 homers and 55 ribbies.