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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox aren't finished. Not yet.
Thanks to a collapse by the New York Yankees and their
three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox, Boston headed to Tampa
Bay still alive, 3½ games behind in the AL East.
"You see the score out there, and our game isn't over, and you
have hope. We know we just have to keep winning to catch them,"
Boston manager Jimy Williams said following Friday night's 7-6 win
over the White Sox. "These guys are tremendous."
Mike Lansing hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly as Boston pushed across an unearned run in the eighth inning. Coupled with New
York's 11-3 loss to the Devils Rays -- their 12th loss in 15 games --
the Red Sox still have a remote chance.
"There is a lot of fight left in these kids," Williams said.
Boston (84-75) closes with three games against the Devil Rays
while the Yankees (87-71) play three games at Baltimore, then go
home for a makeup game against Florida on Monday.
"If we keep winning, maybe we can put a little pressure on
them," said Rod Beck (3-0). "We have to win all our games to even have a shot. That's all we can do. Our style is to make it close
and interesting.
"Should a miracle happen. ... you never know. It's a neat game."
The White Sox are out of synch and have lost five straight since
clinching the AL Central last Sunday, their worst skid since Sept.
6-9, 1999.
And now they're facing more potential pitching problems. Mike
Sirotka was supposed to use Thursday night as a playoff tuneup for
Game 1 of the first round. Instead, he had to leave after three
innings with discomfort in his elbow.
"You've got to take every precaution you can at that time. He's
OK. We'll know more tomorrow," Chicago manager Jerry Manuel said.
Scott Hatteberg singled to start the eighth and went to third
when reliever Bill Simas (2-3) fell down going after Lou Merloni's
bunt and also tripped catcher Mark Johnson in the process.
Johnson retrieved the ball and then fumbled it for an error as
pinch-runner Rico Brogna raced to third. One out later, Lansing flied to right off Bo Howry, and Brogna scored.
"It was Mark's ball and I just couldn't stop. I was running too
fast. I caused it," Simas said.
Nomar Garciaparra's RBI single gave the Red Sox a 6-4 lead in
the seventh before Frank Thomas hit his 43rd homer -- his first in 17 days -- off Rich Garces in the bottom half. Paul Konerko and Joe Crede singled, Beck replaced Garces and Jeff Abbott hit a
game-tying single.
Beck struck out Konerko to end the eighth with runners at first
and second. Derek Lowe finished for his 41st save in 46 chances, his 22nd straight.
Crede reached on an infield single with out and pinch-runner McKay Christensen advanced on Jeff Abbott's grounder. Tony
Graffanino then struck out.
Izzy Alcantara homered in the first off Sirotka, who left
after throwing just 48 pitches. Sirotka has been the leading contender to open the playoffs for Chicago.
Red Sox starter Ramon Martinez couldn't retire a batter in the
bottom of the first, walking Chris Singleton and Jose Valentin, and
then forcing in a run when he hit Thomas and Konerko.
Carlos Lee's sacrifice fly off Tim Wakefield cut Boston's lead
to 3-2.
Abbott's two-run triple bounded past Donnie Sadler in center and
gave the White Sox a 4-3 lead in the third.
Boston loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the fourth.
Lansing hit a two-out RBI single that tied the game before Donnie
Sadler beat out a run-scoring slow grounder as the Red Sox retook
the lead at 5-4 off Lorenzo Barcelo.
Game notes
Boston's Brian Daubach was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts
and is in a 1-for-32 slump ... Ray Durham was a late scratch. Durham, who collapsed on the field Friday at the Metrdome, has
bruised ribs but was pulled Thursday because of problems with a
tooth extraction. He's expected to play in the final weekend of the
regular season against Kansas City. ... It was Boston's first
three-game sweep at Comiskey Park since 1991.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
RECAPS
Anaheim 6
Oakland 3
Texas 13
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Baltimore 23
Toronto 1
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Cleveland 3
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NY Yankees 3
Boston 7
Chi. White Sox 6
Kansas City 8
Detroit 5
Florida 7
Montreal 4
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Chicago Cubs 2
Arizona 12
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