In 4th inning, rally ran out of steam
CHICAGO -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is all too familiar with the Red Sox offense and the team's uncanny ability to overcome adversity.
''We've all seen what they've done," he was saying last night. ''They are always keeping pressure on you. There's no way to let up. Even if you're up by six, your heart is still pumping."
By the third inning yesterday at US Cellular Field, the Red Sox were trailing, 6-0. It certainly didn't look good for the defending world champions, but there were still 18 outs to go for this offense, which put up some of the top numbers in the league this year.
Then came the fourth:
Trot Nixon led off with a single. Jason Varitek put down a bunt toward third. Third baseman Joe Crede couldn't pick it up and literally kicked the ball past home plate, putting Nixon at third and Varitek at second. Were things unraveling for the White Sox?
After a wild pitch and a Kevin Millar double to right each produced a run, it was 6-2, and White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras, who had a history of blowing up against Boston when he was with New York, was in a bit of trouble. There was hope for the Red Sox.
Guillen visited the mound. ''I told Jose he was fine, just throw strikes," said Guillen.
Bill Mueller, who has come up with so many clutch hits for the Sox in the past few years, was next. He hit the ball hard to second, and Tadahito Iguchi decided to throw to third when Millar tried to advance.
Out. Momentum stopped. Tony Graffanino hit into a fielder's choice and Johnny Damon struck out. Inning, and probably game, over.
''When you look at the final score, that play will probably get passed by," Sox manager Terry Francona said. ''It looked like Iguchi thought about throwing, and didn't let it go right away."
The ball bounced, but Crede made the catch and tag for the out.
''Crede made a great play," Francona said. ''If he didn't make that play, they've hopefully or potentially opened up a big inning. That was a big play by Crede at the time. It was a big time in the game."
''We had three straight hits at that point," Millar said. ''It was going to be our chance. They made a very, very aggressive play. Probably, if he had it to do again, he wouldn't do it.
''Bill probably hit the ball too hard. But when it's to that side, I have to go. [Coach] Dale [Sveum] was saying, 'Down, down,' and Crede just made a great catch. If he doesn't stop that . . ."
Guillen had a slightly different perspective from the dugout on the third base side.
''I wanted to say, 'No, no, no,' and it went to, 'That a boy, good job,' " he said. ''I was screaming, 'No, no,' but it turned out a good play. I don't think it was the right play, but it worked out pretty good for us."
After that play, the Sox made 12 consecutive outs before David Ortiz doubled with one out in the eighth. By then, the White Sox were ahead, 12-2, and Boston, which had come from behind to win 46 times during the regular season, was out of time.
Although Francona tried to downplay the way the Sox rallied last postseason after losing Game 3 to New York, 19-8, and then winning eight straight games -- ''That was a different team, a different season," he said again -- it is a thought that sticks with whatever team the Red Sox are playing.
''Early in the day, I said if we score first, we have a chance," Guillen said. ''Last year they were behind a lot of times and they kept coming back. You got to keep plugging and hope for the best."
All Francona could do was look to today's game, although he sounded a bit Belichickian.
''I've said so many times, in other questions, that last year doesn't matter," he said. ''What matters to this team is how we bounce back tomorrow.
''You know, last year is along time ago, different team, different scenario. Everything is different. This is another year. I don't have any doubt that we will bounce back."
