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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- Pete Schourek knew he would win again. He just
didn't know if it would be this season.
Schourek earned his first victory since May 15, holding on after
Manny Alexander hit his first career grand slam in Boston's
seven-run first inning, as the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics
10-3 Tuesday night.
|  | | Oakland 's Kevin Appier, right, talks to Mike Stanley about what was going wrong in his short stint Tuesday night. |
"It was a long time coming," said Schourek, who allowed three
runs on just two hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings while striking
out six. "I'm proud of myself for the way I've worked to come
back. I think it paid off."
Schourek (3-9) had not won in 12 starts before going on the
disabled list July 21 with a frayed left rotator cuff. He was given
the option of season-ending surgery, but decided to try to make it
back for the playoff run this year.
"I like to have more chips on the line," said Schourek, who
came out after throwing 74 pitches. "It's just a matter of time
before it comes back. I just hope it comes back in early
November."
He combined with four other pitchers on a six-hitter as Boston
moved a game ahead of Oakland in the AL wild-card race and remained
two games behind Cleveland, 7-4 winners over Tampa Bay.
Kevin Appier (12-11) made his shortest start of the year,
lasting just 2 2/3 innings and allowing eight runs, nine hits and
three walks. He gave up two walks and five hits -- including
Alexander's homer -- with two outs in the first inning.
"He didn't have it. He hung a few sliders and they didn't miss
them," manager Art Howe said. "The big first inning kind of got
us out of the game."
After the game, Appier complained that the baseballs felt
"greasy" to him.
"I don't know if that was the problem, but they just felt weird
to me," he said, acknowledging that it didn't seem to bother
Schourek. "It bums me out a lot, but I've got to get ready for my
next start."
Trot Nixon singled to lead off the first and Jose Offerman
walked before Carl Everett grounded into a double play. Nomar
Garciaparra singled to score Nixon, then Troy O'Leary walked and
Dante Bichette singled before Scott Hatteberg blooped a broken-bat
single over shortstop Miguel Tejada to score two more.
After Donnie Sadler walked to load the bases, Alexander homered
into the screen above the Green Monster down the line to make it
7-0. Nixon singled again before Offerman, the 11th batter of the
inning, flied out to center for the third out.
Boston made it 8-0 in the third when Sadler doubled and scored
on Nixon's double.
Schourek held Oakland hitless through 3 1/3 innings before Jason
Giambi hit his 32nd homer, a solo shot, in the fourth. The A's
scored two in the sixth on an RBI double by Mike Stanley and a
bases-loaded walk drawn by Tejada off Hipolito Pichardo.
Pichardo then left the game with a sore right forearm. He is
scheduled to have tests Wednesday.
Game notes
The Red Sox recalled INF Morgan Burkhart from Triple-A
Pawtucket and sent RHP Dan Smith outright to Triple-A. Burkhart hit
.204 at Pawtucket since he was last optioned Aug. 5. Smith was
designated for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man
roster for Bichette. ... Garciaparra was just 3-for-17 on the
homestand before singling in his first at-bat. ... Sadler started
at second base for the second consecutive game in place of Mike
Lansing, who has four hits in his last 39 at-bats. ... Appier was
2-1 with a 1.98 ERA in four previous starts. ... Over their
previous eight games, A's starters were 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA. ...
Umpire Ron Kulpa returned to Boston for the first time since he got
into an argument with Everett that led to Everett's 10-game
suspension. ... Oakland pitchers walked nine.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Oakland Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
D-Ray Williams suspended 5 games for charging Pedro
Red Sox honor Fenway hero Fisk, retire No. 27
RECAPS
Boston 10
Oakland 3
Cleveland 7
Tampa Bay 4
Detroit 7
Anaheim 5
Seattle 4
Toronto 3
Texas 2
Chi. White Sox 1
NY Yankees 10
Kansas City 5
Baltimore 6
Minnesota 5
NY Mets 3
Cincinnati 2
Atlanta 5
Arizona 2
Houston 9
Florida 5
St. Louis 7
Montreal 6
Colorado 10
Chicago Cubs 2
San Diego 3
Milwaukee 1
Pittsburgh 8
Los Angeles 0
San Francisco 8
Philadelphia 5
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