Last-inning rally sends the fans home smiling

08:06 AM EDT on Friday, April 9, 2004

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

Journal photo / Kris Craig Seven-year-old Andrew Julian, left, and his friend, Ryan Keyes, both of Hingham, Mass., were among the 8,964 baseball fans treated to a fantastic finish last night in Pawtucket.

PAWTUCKET -- What a way to start the 2004 campaign.

The Pawtucket Red Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons in the season opener in front of 8,964 last night at McCoy Stadium. With the bases loaded, PawSox' designated hitter Andy Dominique drew a walk to push the winning run across.

"A lot of times it's more exciting if there had been a sac fly, a guy sliding in or a clean hit," said Pawtucket manager Buddy Bailey. "But, it doesn't matter [if you win]."

Everything worked for the PawSox in the last of the ninth much to the delight of the crowd. Earl Snyder led off and reached on an error before Tony Schrager, who was making his Triple-A debut, posted his second hit of the game to put runners on first and second.

After Jeremy Owens was unsuccessful dropping down a sacrifice bunt and eventual struck out looking, Mike Curry singled to load the bases.

Major-league veteran Carlos Febles, who went 3 for 5, drove in both his RBI with a single to tie the game at 3-3. Bailey motioned to Curry, who had 58 steals in San Antonio last season, to get to third somehow. So, Curry and Febles pulled a double steal, forcing the Bisons to intentional walk Kevin Youkilis.

Dominique followed, worked the count

full, and drew the walk for the victory.

"A win is always good," said Dominique. "Anytime you can get a W it's a positive for us. It's gets us rolling. It shows the character that we've got with the guys getting big hits in the ninth."

"It's a good way to start the year," said PawSox starter Phil Seibel. "Let's hope we don't make them all like that. It's great to have the team come from behind, and this team is going to score some runs so that ability is always there."

The lefty Seibel was solid in his PawSox debut, working five innings while allowing one run on five hits. He was effective because he was able to control his fastball, get ahead of hitters and used his offspeed stuff to keep Buffalo off balance.

Pawtucket drew first blood when Dominique drove in his first of two RBI of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Until the ninth, however, that was the only run the PawSox could push across.

The Bisons scored a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth, including a monster solo home run by Eric Crozier, which hit one off the roof of the center-field concession stand.

For such a young team, the PawSox showed the ability to perform under pressure.

"This was a big game for a young club," said Bailey. "We really haven't had our entire team together very long. It's nice to win, but sometimes when you come from behind like that it really gives you the attitude that even if you're down, you fight to the finish. And, we did.

"When you get that close and come up short, it doesn't really mold a team. But, when you get that first one under your belt, it brings unity and that's what you're searching for."