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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- When Orioles manager Mike Hargrove looks at Sidney
Ponson, he sees a 23-year-old kid with a fastball in the mid- to
high-90s who has needed to learn patience on the mound.
|  | | Sidney Ponson tossed his sixth complete game of the season on Friday, striking out three. |
But after taking some knocks this season, Ponson seems to be
getting it.
Ponson pitched a four-hitter to lead Baltimore past the Boston
Red Sox 3-1 Friday night, sending the Red Sox further back in the
playoff chase.
Ponson (9-12) mixed a sharp curve with his fastball, worked the
corners, and kept Boston off-balance all night while recording just
three strikeouts.
"A lot of people have the wrong idea that pitching is about
strikeouts," Hargrove said. "The whole idea is to keep the big
part of the bat off the ball. He did that today."
Ponson recorded his sixth complete game of the season and his
first career win against Boston in five decisions.
As good as Ponson was, the Red Sox admitted they were flat after
dropping three of five to Cleveland in a series that all but killed
their playoff hopes.
"We wanted to win two more games against Cleveland," Red Sox
third baseman Manny Alexander said. "We didn't, and it took
something out of us."
But Ponson was superb, Alexander said.
"Ponson was as good as I've ever seen him," he said. "His
curveball was outstanding."
Boston's only serious threat came in the third when center
fielder Eugene Kingsale misplayed Darren Lewis' RBI single, putting
runners on second and third with two outs. Ponson ended the inning
by getting Jason Varitek to fly out to left.
Since allowing five runs in 6 1/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland
on Sept. 1, Ponson has allowed just eight earned runs is 33 2/3
innings (2.14 ERA).
"It is tough, but I think I'm learning," Ponson said. "Before
when I had guys on second and third, I'd try to throw a 100 miles
an hour. Now I'm more relaxed."
Greg Myers gave Ponson all the runs he'd need when he pulled
a fastball from Ramon Martinez (10-8) into the right-field stands
for a two-run homer that broke a 1-all tie in the fifth.
Martinez allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings.
Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett was greeted with boos when he
was announced as a pinch-hitter for Mike Lansing in the eighth
inning, and booed when he struck out.
Everett was involved in a shouting match with Lewis on Thursday
after Everett arrived late to the game, then told manager Jimy
Williams he couldn't start. Everett has been nursing a strained
left quadriceps.
The win was just Baltimore's second in eight games, and fifth in
16 games.
Boston took a 1-0 lead in the third when Lewis' two-out single
scored Alexander, who had singled and advanced to second on a walk.
The Orioles tied it in the fourth when Jerry Hairston homered
into the left-field screen.
Game notes
Nomar Garciaparra's infield single in the fourth extended
his hitting streak to 14 games, tying a season high for Boston. ...
Melvin Mora was caught stealing in the first inning, making him
just 4-for-11 in steal attempts this season. ... Baltimore's road
record is 29-50, worst in the American League.
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Baseball Scoreboard
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