CLEVELAND -- The Sox remain mystified by reliever Javier Lopez' struggles against lefthanders.

They hit .293 against him during the season -- righties hit just .176 -- despite his sidearm delivery, which, in theory, should make him tougher on lefties. But Lopez surrendered the go-ahead hit to lefty Trot Nixon in the 11th inning Saturday, even though Nixon hadn't had an at-bat against a lefthanded pitcher in almost two months.

''It's kind of a weird stat,'' admitted manager Terry Francona of the .293 average by opposing lefties. ''We brought him in as kind of a lefty specialist and (now) he's been a guy we can leave out there because he gets righties out.

''I think (throwing) strike one to lefties is very big for him. Things kind of loosen up and he attacks the strike zone. When he doesn't throw strike one, he tries to aim the ball to a certain spot and he loses some of his effectiveness.''