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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- Even after tagging Tim Wakefield for three hits,
Johnny Damon praised the once-struggling knuckleballer.
"He's a guy I'd love to see on our team," Damon said Sunday
after leading the Kansas City Royals over the Boston Red Sox 3-1.
"Our big sluggers were happy to see him go."
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Wakefield (6-6) left after seven strong innings, outdueled by
Dan Reichert (5-6).
The rookie right-hander allowed one run and seven hits in eight
innings, striking out five and walking three -- the fourth
consecutive start in which he allowed three earned runs or fewer.
"He's gradually gotten better," Royals manager Tony Muser
said. "I'm hoping he's starting to develop the confidence that he
can pitch at this level."
Ricky Bottalico got two outs for his 11th save in 17 chances.
Damon went 3-for-4 as the Royals won the final game of the
three-game series. The subject of trade rumors in the first half,
he is the league's top hitter since the All-Star break, batting
.477 (51-for-107) to raise his average from .267 to .319.
"I didn't have the right baseball frame of mind," Damon said.
"It does wear on you a little."
On Sunday, Damon wore down the Red Sox, singling to lead off the
game and scoring Kansas City's first run. He singled and stole two
bases in the third before he was thrown out trying to tag up and
score on a popup to deep third base.
"We weren't doing anything against Wakefield, so we had to take
some chances," Damon said.
Wakefield gave up an unearned run and three hits in seven
innings before running into trouble in the eighth.
"He didn't really battle. I thought he cruised," catcher Scott
Hatteberg said. "He struggled in the bullpen. Then he got out
there, and he pitched great."
Carlos Febles led off with a single and then stole second. Damon
moved him to third on an infield single before Hipolito Pichardo
came on to pitch.
Rey Sanchez grounded into a fielder's choice that erased Damon
but scored Febles to make it 2-1. Mike Sweeney singled, and
Jermaine Dye singled to score Sanchez before Joe Randa hit into an
inning-ending double play.
Damon singled in the first, took second on a groundout and
scored when Troy O'Leary dropped Dye's fly ball in left field for a
two-base error.
Boston tried to rally in the ninth. Mike Lansing singled off
Jerry Spradlin leading off but was thrown out stretching by left
fielder Mark Quinn.
Rico Brogna and Jason Varitek singled, bringing on Bottalico,
who retired Trot Nixon on a flyout and Brian Daubach on a
groundout.
Nomar Garciaparra had a homer and double to raise his
league-leading average to .394. Carl Everett, a day after shouting
at manager Jimy Williams, was cheered by the crowd and went
1-for-4.
Garciaparra's homer went to straightaway center field, where the
Green Monster ends with a vertical yellow line that delineates the
field of play. If the ball hits to the left of the line, it's in
play; to the right, it's a homer.
Second base umpire Ian Lamplugh ran out to make the call and
immediately signaled that the ball was in play, leaving Garciaparra
on second. Williams ran out to argue, but third base umpire John
Shulock was already on his way out to talk to Lamplugh.
After a brief conversation, Shulock signaled a homer, and
Garciaparra finished his trot around the bases.
Game notes
Wakefield hasn't won since July 16. ... Damon has 15
multihit games since the All-Star break. ... Quinn was hitless,
stopping a 13-game hitting streak. ... The Royals have one homer in
their last nine games. ... The attendance of 33,442 was Boston's
30th consecutive sellout. ... Daubach was called out on strikes in
the eighth, returned to the plate when it was ruled a foul tip,
then struck out, anyway. ... The Red Sox intend to activate Tomo
Ohka to pitch Monday night and option Rick Croushore to Triple-A
Pawtucket.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
Everett's departure from trip reportedly led to argument
RECAPS
Kansas City 3
Boston 1
Cleveland 5
Anaheim 2
Minnesota 7
Detroit 3
Seattle 11
NY Yankees 1
Texas 11
Toronto 6
Tampa Bay 7
Baltimore 4
Chi. White Sox 13
Oakland 0
Florida 9
Cincinnati 6
Philadelphia 10
Colorado 9
Houston 8
Montreal 1
San Francisco 7
Pittsburgh 1
Arizona 9
NY Mets 5
San Diego 8
Chicago Cubs 6
Atlanta 6
St. Louis 4
Milwaukee 9
Los Angeles 6
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