LOST IN `BERMUDA TRIANGLE' MARTINEZ, QUIRKY PLAYS COMBINE TO SINK ANGELS AT FENWAY BOSTON 4, ANGELS 1.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox are a member and currently champions of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball’s American League. From to the present, the Red Sox have played in Fenway Park. had a couple of things going for them Friday night, and together they teamed up to beat the Angels 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 33,221 at Fenway Park • • [ . First and foremost, the Red Sox had pitcher Pedro Martinez on the mound. Martinez (17-3) gave up only a solo homer Noun 1. solo homer - a home run with no runners on base solo blast home run, homer - a base hit on which the batter scores a run to Troy Glaus Troy Edward Glaus (born August 3, 1976 in Tarzana, California) is a Major League Baseball player who plays third base for the Toronto Blue Jays. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels (1998-2004) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (2005). in his eight innings, cruising after the Red Sox offense scored four runs in the first three innings off Angels starter Jarrod Washburn Jarrod Michael Washburn (born August 13, 1974 in La Crosse, Wisconsin) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1995 amateur draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Washburn won the final game . The Angels fell two games behind In sports, the phrase games behind, often abbreviated as GB in tables, is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division. Oakland in the American League West The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. and remain one game behind Seattle in the wild-card race. Boston moved to within 1 1/2 games of the Angels in the wild-card race. In addition to Martinez's performance, the Red Sox also got a boost from a fan who does a remarkable impersonation Impersonation Patroclus wore the armor of Achilles against the Trojans to encourage the disheartened Greeks. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad] Prisoner of Zenda, The of Angels right fielder Orlando Palmeiro. In the fourth inning, the Red Sox had Rickey Henderson on first base with nobody out when Nomar Garciaparra hit a popup to shallow right field just inside the foul line. Second baseman Adam Kennedy got there in time but backed off at the last moment and let the ball fall. Luckily for the Angels, Palmeiro picked up the ball and threw to second base to force Henderson. But it was the kind of play that typified the Angels' fortunes Friday. ``A fan said, 'I got it, I got it,' and I said, 'That's Orlando,' '' Kennedy said. ``He got me good. It was one guy whose voice stood out and he got me. It's funny now because the run didn't score.'' No, that one didn't score. But when Henderson hit a popup to nearly the same spot one inning earlier, the outcome was different. Kennedy got turned around and the ball fell in for a single. Henderson scored on Garciaparra's double high off the Green Monster in left field. The Red Sox added two more runs in the inning, both of which probably would not have scored had Kennedy made the play. ``The balls down the line seem to come back here more than other parks,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if it's the wind or what.'' Kennedy wouldn't blame the wind. ``(Angels hitting coach) Mickey (Hatcher) calls it the Bermuda Triangle,'' Kennedy said. ``I was going where I thought the ball was going to be, but it wasn't there.'' Washburn (15-5) paid for the wayward popups and a few broken-bat hits, including one by Henderson in which the barrel end of the bat had Washburn diving for cover. Washburn has lost his past two starts after winning 15 of 16 decisions, but he said he isn't concerned because he said he threw well. ``I couldn't get upset because I was making my pitches,'' said Washburn, who gave up a season-high 11 hits in six innings. ``Balls found holes. You've got to laugh. You'd make yourself crazy if you let that stuff frustrate you. ... I didn't miss many spots, they just did a good job of putting the ball in play.'' Besides Glaus' homer in the seventh, the closest the Angels came to scoring off Martinez came in the fourth inning after Palmeiro singled with one out. Garret Anderson doubled into the right-field corner, but the Red Sox's relay - right fielder Manny Manny may refer to: In nobility:
The Angels have lost three of four games, but Scioscia continues to preach his one-game focus. ``There's a lot of baseball left,'' he said. And the Angels players similarly don't want to put too much pressure on themselves. ``I don't think going out there and playing in a panic is best for us,'' Kennedy said. However, Red Sox manager Grady Little said Friday's game had a playoff feel to it. ``I don't think there is any question about it,'' Little said. ``Everyone knows what's at stake in a series like this. It's the same for both teams and you saw a lot of intensity out there.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Boston's Jason Varitek looks at the ball as Angels designated hitter Brad Fullmer walks away from the plate after striking out. (2) Pedro Martinez, looking skyward sky·ward adv. & adj. At or toward the sky. sky  wards adv. as he walks to the Red Sox dugout after going eight innings, improved to 17-3. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press Box: AL WEST |
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