The Republican, Thursday, June 29, 2006 UMass coach throws pitch By GARRY BROWN BOSTON Pedro Martinez and Josh Beckett weren't the only pitchers in the spotlight last night at Fenway Park. Before they took their first trips to the mound, another pitcher reared back and fired a pretty good fastball a low strike. That other pitcher? Greg Cannella, coach of men's lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts. He threw the ceremonial first pitch at the invitation of Red Sox management, which often spotlights achievements of college and high school teams around New England. Red Sox notebook In this case, Cannella was honored as the representative of his UMass team, which went 13-5 and fought its way to the championship game of the NCAA Division It tournament before losing to the University of Virginia.
"It was wonderful to be out there on the mound, but I was more nervous than I've ever been as an athlete or a coach. I guess I was lucky. What's the baseball term? The catcher framed it just right for me? I guess that would explain the pitch," he said with a big smile. "Anyway, I was honored and flattered to represent UMass tonight. We certainly appreciate what the Red Sox did, even though it was a little overwhelming," he said.
Cannella was a guest of the Red Sox along with his wife, Laurie, and their children, Vance, 6, and Virginia, 4. "My son loves Papi (Red Sox slugger David Ortiz), and he got to meet him on the field before the game." SCHILLING-GLAVINE TONIGHT: Curt Schilling (9-2) draws lefty Tom Glavine (11-2) tonight at Fenway Park in the wrapup of a marquee interleague series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. Although the return of Pedro Martinez to pitch against the Red Sox last night drew the most attention, Glavine actually would have to be considered the Mets' ace, given his season record and career victory total (286). In Schilling's 16 starts, he has been called upon to face nine staff leaders: Kevin Millwood of Texas, Jamie Moyer of Seattle, Scott Kazmir of Tampa Bay, Rodrigo Lopez of Baltimore, Mike Mussina of that other New York club, Kenny Rogers of Detroit, Johan Santana of Minnesota, John Smoltz of Atlanta and the now-on-leave Brett Myers of Philadelphia. "That's the way Schill likes it," manager Terry Francona said.
"He was that way when we were together in Philadelphia. He knows who he's pitching against and he relishes trying to be better. He gets a good feeling from going toe-to-toe in matchups like that." Glavine, who played baseball and hockey for Billerica High School on the Massachusetts north shore, is 40 and in his 19th major league season. Schilling, 39, is a 16-year man. Glavine won two Cy Young Awards with the Atlanta Braves (1991, 1998).
Schilling has never won the Cy, but four times finished among the top four in the voting. His awards have come in the postseason co-MVP of the World Series with Randy Johnson in 2001, and MVP of the National League Championship Series with Philadelphia in 1993. "I won't say that Glavine has re-invented himself, but he has rediscovered what made him successful," Francona said. After signing with the Mets as a free agent in the winter of 2003, Glavine had three subpar seasons for a combined record of 33-41. This season, he could get back to the 20-victory level.
He had five 20-win seasons with the Braves. BOSTON'S BIG After his last start, Schilling praised the Red Sox infield defense. He went so far as to call shortstop Alex Gonzalez "the best athlete I've ever seen on a baseball field." The Red Sox stretched their string of errorless games to 15, tying the American League record set by the 1996 Texas Rangers. The major league record is 16, set by the 1992 St. Louis Cardinals.
Over their last 51 games, dating to May 1, the Sox have committed only 12 errors. The Sox lead the majors with a .991 fielding percentage and the fewest errors (23). Gonzalez extended his streak of errorless games to 54. That's a Red Sox record for a shortstop. "Defense is one of our constants and our strengths," Francona said.
"When we go to the bench we don't lose anything defensively with players like Alex Cora, Willie Harris, Gabe Kapler and Doug Mirabelli." CLEMENT COMING: Pitcher Matt Clement (5-5), sidelined since June 16 with a right-shoulder strain, threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session yesterday and was so encouraged, he wants to have another session tomorrow. It won't happen, because Francona's reining him in. "He felt really good, but we want him to get back to long-toss tomorrow, then throw a side session," the manager said. ROOKIE REPORT: Lefty Jon Lester (3-0) is the first Red Sox pitcher to get three victories out of his first four major league starts. The last to do it was Vaughn Eshelman, also a lefty, who went 3-0 in three starts in 1995.
Eshelman went 6-3 for the '95 season, 6-3 again in 1996 and 3-3 in 1997 before elbow problems 4- brought a quick end to his major league career. DIGGING CLAY: The Red Sox have signed Caleb Clay, an Alabama high school pitcher whom they drafted in the sandwich round (44th overall). Clay had 112 strikeouts and 21 walks in 86 innings for Cullman High School of Cullman, Ala. The Red Sox also signed their seventh-round pick, shortstop Kris Negron of Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, Calif. A-Rod rallies Yanks in 12th The Red Sox' Josh Beckett tips his cap to the Fenway Park crowd after leaving the game in the eight inning at Boston RO last Beckett pitched night.
innings, allowed five hits, two runs, walked one and struck out seven. Associated Press Sox: Old friend pounded Continued from Page C1 barrassing night for Martinez. After Gonzo's blast, Pedro struck out Kevin Youkilis his only whiff of the night and that would be it for his short start, and his fourth loss for the National League East leaders. Even for an accomplished ace like Pedro, these Red Sox simply are too hot to handle. They have won 11 in a row, the longest streak by a Boston ball club since September 1986.
The Mets came into this series leading the National League in earned run average, but the Bosox have outscored them 19-6. It was clear almost from the start which pitcher brought his game to this baseball showcase. The better man, no doubt about it, was Josh Beckett, who went innings with a masterful five-hit job marred only by solo home runs Carlos Delgado in the fourth, Jose Valentin in the seventh. Beckett (10-3) struck out five and didn't issue a walk until the last batter he faced, Carlos Beltran. The hardthrowing righthander has won three times during the current streak.
Altogether, he has won four in a row since the Yankees pounded him in a 13-5 loss June 5 in New York. The hot-hitting Red Sox got a jumpstart against Martinez when Kevin You- kilis yanked his second pitch an 81 mph cut fastball -to left center for a single. Mark Loretta followed with a hit to right field. Pedro got old friend David Ortiz on a comebacker, but both runners moved up. Then came a walk to another exteammate, Manny Ramirez.
A sacrifice fly to center by Trot Nixon made it 1-0, and a single to right by Pedro's former catcher, Jason Varitek, put the Red Sox up 2-0. Next came a bad break for Pedro a drop of a Mike Lowell flyball by left fielder Lastings Milledge, allowing two more runs. Martinez worked a scoreless second, but his nightmare continued in the third when Ramirez doubled and scored on a single by Nixon. Varitek then singled him to third and he scored while Lowell was hitting into a double play. But Pedro wasn't out of the inning yet.
He walked Coco Crisp and then, bang -the Gonzalez homer, his second of this series. That made it 8-0, and old Fenway was rocking, with the crowd knowing full well that Pedro wouldn't be back for the fourth inning. As baseball fate would have it, Martinez was relieved by another former Red Sox pitcher, lefty Darren Oliver. Youkilis, a hot leadoff man who has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, reached Oliver for a two-run single in the sixth. Return: Fans cheer Martinez Continued from Page C1 he allowed eight runs (six earned) and seven hits.
"I admit that it was an emotional time, and I did get caught up in a little. It might have been what threw me off," he said. "I couldn't spot the ball, and the Sox are hot a very good team. They're so dangerous, they put a lot of pressure on you." Mets manager Willie Randolph said Martinez "got caught up in the moment and got confused" when he fielded a comebacker by David Ortiz. Pedro looked to third but no one was covering due to a shift on Ortiz -then hesitated when he turned to look at second base, then had to throw to first.
The runners advanced and both wound up scoring. The Sox got two more runs in the inning when left fielder Lastings Milledge had another misadventure, dropping a Mike Lowell fly with two outs. "Four is better than two, and it kind of deflates you when it happens," Varitek said. The Red Sox catcher said he didn't know what to expect when he faced Martinez, a pitcher he had worked closely with for seven years. "I thought and thought about it, and then I decided to stop before I messed my mind up," he said.
Varitek's decision proved to be a wise one. He socked singles in his two at-bats against Martinez. "He hung a breaking ball on the first one. The second one was a good pitch," Varitek said. As Martinez concluded his postgame press conference, he offered this assessment of the 2006 Red Sox vs.
the 2004 championship team. "I think this team might be a little better all around. A little better, but they have to prove it." he said. Chimelis: Mets fans true to team Continued from Page C1 liked the allure of a New York team hate the Yankees, too." As does he. Yellin grew up in Queens, N.Y.
His father sold concessions at Shea Stadium. He vividly remembers Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, rather differently than most of us do. "I was 12," Yellin said. "Watching the game with my dad, jumping up and down on my bed. I was so happy." Gee, it almost makes you think that wasn't the worst night in sports history, after all.
"My daughter, who's 4, has asked me if it's OK to make the Red Sox her second team," Yellin said. Sure, he said. Any team but the Yankees. "Anybody who says he roots for both New York teams is not a true fan," Yellin said. "Growing up on Long Island, we thought of the Mets as our team," Leone said.
"We still think of it that way." Kevin Carneiro, 37, was one of us before he became one of them. A Red Sox fan outnumbered in a pro- Yankee family, he switched to the Mets at 15. "I'm a purist," said Carneiro, who grew up in Ludlow and is the assistant equipment manager at Springfield College. "I like the NL style; it's not watered down with the DH. I also Associated Press Alex Rodriguez turned boos to cheers with a two-run homer in the 12th inning, rallying the New York Yankees to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves yesterday.
After Marcus Giles put Atlanta ahead with a solo shot in the top half, Rodriguez finally delivered the big hit those demanding Yankees fans have been clamoring for all month. Jorge Sosa (2-10) walked Jason Giambi with one out. Rodriguez, mired in a 2-for-20 slump, then drove a 3-1 pitch far beyond the left-field fence for his 16th home run. The 2005 AL MVP clapped his hands and blew a kiss to the sky on his way to first, then tossed his helmet high in the air as he neared the plate for a warm greeting from teammates. Ron Villone (1-1) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 12th to keep New York within one.
Jason Giambi hit his 23rd homer for the Yankees, and Rodriguez finished with three RBIs. What began as a tense pitchers' duel between Atlanta's John Smoltz and New York's ChienMing Wang turned into a battle of the bullpens a weakness all season for the Braves. Twins 6, Dodgers 3: Johan Santana pitched seven shutout in-' nings and Tori Hunter hit a grand slam to lead host Minnesota past Los Angeles for its seventh straight victory. Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 with a walk to improve his major league-best batting average to .392. Santana (9-4) allowed two hits and struck out nine to increase his big league-leading total to 124.
Dodgers starter Odalis Perez (4-3) gabe up six runs and 11 hits in innings. Tigers 5, Astros 0: Justin Verlander pitched three-hit ball for eight innings for host Detroit. Verlander (10-4) struck out seven and walked none, winning his third straight start. The rookie has lost only one of his last 10 starts. Andy Pettitte (6-9) yielded five runs two earned and 10 hits in innings for Houston.
White Sox 4, Pirates 3: Host Pittsburgh set a team record with its 13th consecutive defeat, blowing a three-run lead in the seventh inning. Juan Uribe's bases-loaded triple keyed Chicago's four-run comeback. The Pirates put two runners on in the ninth against closer Bobby Jenks, but their best hitter, Jason Bay, struck out to end it. The Pirates broke the modern-era (since 1900) club record of 12 straight losses set in 1939. Blue Jays 6, Nationals 1: Ted Lilly pitched six shutout innings to win his third consecutive start and Frank Catalanotto drove in Major leagues homer in seven innings.
NATIONAL LEAGUE Cubs 6, Brewers: Derrek Lee three runs to help host Toronto. Ryan Zimmerman drove in the only run of the game for Washington with an eight-inning double off reliever Scott Downs, ending a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings by the Blue Jays. Lilly (8-7) scattered five hits and struck out six. He walked just two, one intentionally. Washington starter Shawn Hill (1-3) allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings.
Orioles 7-12, Phillies Hernandez homered and drove in four runs to key a 20-hit outburst that helped Kris Benson earn his ninth win, and host Baltimore Orioles breezed past Philadelphia 12-5 for a doubleheader sweep. In the first game, Erik Bedard allowed five hits over seven shutout innings, leading the Orioles to a 7-4 victory. Hernandez also homered in the opener and totaled six RBIs for the day. Ryan Howard hit two homers to take the major league lead with 27, and Chase Utley and David Dellucci also connected 'in the second game for the Phillies. Devil Rays 3, Marlins 1: Casey Fossum pitched five strong innings to help Tampa Bay end Florida's eight-game home winning streak.
Fossum (3-3) allowed one run and three hits. He walked five and struck out two to beat Florida for the first time. Scott Olsen (6-4) gave up four hits and two runs in six innings. He walked three and struck out four in an unsuccessful bid to win his fifth straight decision. Reds 7, Royals 2: Ken Griffey Jr.
hit the last of host Cincinnati's four homers, and Aaron Harang shut down a Kansas City offense that had been on a surge. The Reds hit their first three homers off Scott Elarton (3-9) during a five third inning. Harang (9-5) matched Bronson Arroyo for the staff lead in victories. The right-hander gave up four singles two of them infield hits and John Buck's solo homered for the first time in almost three months and Ronny Cedeno blooped a go-ahead double during a five-run eighth inning that rallied host Chicago. Lee, who came off the disabled list Sunday after missing 59 games with a broken wrist, hit his first homer since April 8, a two-run shot off Dan Kolb (2-2) that tied the score and started the comeback.
Milwaukee took a 3-1 lead in the eighth on Bill Hall's two-run homer off Bob Howry (3-2). that wasn't the Yankees." Some Mets fans are more visible than others. Holyoke businessman 1 John Mantzios, who bought Mets season tickets in 2002, sponsored a trip for 80 Paper City kids to Shea Stadium in '03. From 1962-68, everybody loved the Mets. They were America's bumbling, lovable losers, the Abbotts and Costellos of baseball.
Then, in 1969, the Mets won the World Series. They've been in four Series and won two, but Leone, a Chicopee resident since 1981, says they've been have-nots far more often. "For a lot of years, the Mets have been downtrodden," he said. "We've always hoped for a good season, but it never quite happens." This week, the Mets and Red Sox are clashing in a possible World Se- ries preview. Pedro is a Met.
Yellin will be at Fenway tonight, wearing his Mets garb. The shroud of secrecy is being lifted. Living in our midst, but under the radar, Mets fans think this might be their year. "We're watching with baited breath, but we're used to disappointment," Leone said. "Sort of like the Red Sox." Ron Chimelis can be reached at Gammons resting Associated Press Notebook Peter Gammons, an ESPN analyst and member of the writer's wing of the baseball Hall of Howe, a former NL Rookie of Fame, was in good condition the Year whose career was beyesterday at a Boston hospital set by drug and alcohol abuse, after surgery for a brain aneu- was killed April 28 in the singlerysm.
vehicle crash in Coachella, The 61-year-old Gammons about 150 miles east of Los Anwas treated at Brigham and geles. Toxicological results deWomen's Hospital in Boston termined there was after being airlifted from a hos- methamphetamine in his bloodpital on Cape Cod, where he was stream. The amount of the illestricken at his home Tuesday gal drug wasn't disclosed. morning. ELSEWHERE: Tigers designated "Peter is resting comfortably hitter Dmitri Young, who after surgical repair of a brain pleaded no contest this week to in aneurysm," his wife, Gloria, said a domestic violence charge in a statement.
"We appreciate Michigan, is headed to Florida all that of you your keep good Peter wishes in and your ask for a conditioning program thoughts and Please Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Casunderstand that we prayers. are tellini extended the contracts of for our privacy at this time asking general manager Wayne Krivsfocus on Peter's recovery." as we ky and manager Jerry Narron Gammons, a baseball analyst fielder San Moises Francisco Alou on placed the right on ESPN, began his sports writ- bled list disaing career at The Boston Globe with strained lower in 1969. He covered the NHL. back. Alou missed his ninth baseball and college basketball straight game.
The move is retfor Sports Illustrated from roactive to June 18 Houston 1976-78 and 1986-90, working a Astros manager Phil Garner second stint at the Globe in be- was suspended one game after tween. He joined ESPN full-time tossing a chair onto the field folin 1990. lowing his ejection during a loss HOWE AUTOPSY IN: Former ma- in Detroit Monday night. The jor league pitcher Steve Howe, commissioner's office also sushad methamphetamine in his pended San Diego Padres catchsystem when he died after his er Josh Bard one game for his pickup truck drifted off a desert. aggressive actions during a highway, a coroner's autopsy game against Seattle on Sunshowed Tuesday.
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