BOSTON -- The "real" baseball season resumes this weekend, with the
Yankees visiting Fenway Park for a four-game series against the Red Sox,
beginning tonight.
This will be the second series of the year between the Sox and their
American League rivals. Boston took three of four from New York in early
April.
Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez will face Ted Lilly tonight. Both teams have
been hot lately, leaving the teams only one game apart in the standings,
with Boston in first. New York has won 13 of its last 15 games. Boston
has won 24 of its last 33.
Martinez, no big fan of speaking about Yankee series, curses and
rivalries, said when pressed that he wasn't surprised the Sox haven't
been able to shake New York despite their record, which is the best in
the majors.
"They're as good a team as we are, probably better," said Martinez.
"Let's take it to the field and see what happens. Then I'll tell you
who's best at the end of the season."
But all the excitement? And the rivalry?
"It's actually boring," said Martinez. "Go ask someone else. I'm very
sick of it. There's no rivalry. I love (the Yanks') Bernie Williams. I
love Derek Jeter. I love everybody. We just compete. We're not part of
that Babe Ruth stuff. We don't have anything to do with it. I wasn't
even born. Now disappear from my locker."
In the other matchups that are set, John Burkett and Roger Clemens will
hook up tomorrow night, while Darren Oliver
and Mike Mussina will oppose each other on Sunday.
Derek Lowe will pitch for Boston on Saturday, but the Yankees aren't
sure if David Wells (bad back) will be available as planned.
Not surprisingly, large crowds are expected for the series, so Sox
officials are encouraging fans to arrive a little earlier than normal,
especially given the increased security procedures that are in place at
the gates this year.
Rest for Nomar
Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was held out of the starting lineup last
night, but there was no dire reason. Just a rest, said manager Grady
Little . When the Yanks were in town in April, Little held out
Garciaparra from the first game of that series, which had the talk-show
callers up in arms.
Garciaparra, who missed most of last year because of right wrist
surgery, says he is healthy. He homered Tuesday night, and is batting
.301 with 16 doubles and 33 RBI. But he is only 9-for-34 (.265) with
three extra-base hits and five RBI in the absence of the injured Manny
Ramirez, who customarily hits behind him.
Jose Offerman also was held out of the starting lineup. He is only
3-for-29 (.103) in eight games on the homestand. Rey Sanchez started at
shortstop, Lou Merloni at second and Rickey Henderson in left field,
with Brian Daubach moving from left field to the designated-hitter spot.
Henderson hadn't played in five days, partly because he was suffering
from the flu. It was the 3,000th game of Henderson's career, leaving him
one behind Cal Ripken for seventh place on the all-time list.
Garciaparra and Offerman each entered the game in the ninth inning as a
pinch hitter.
Offerman pulled a single through the hole on the right side for his
first pinch hit in 10 at-bats dating back to Set. 12, 1997, when he was
playing for Kansas City. Garciaparra flied to left on the first pitch he
saw from Keith Foulke
with runners at first and second and no outs.
A new test date
Dustin Hermanson
will test his right groin Sunday in a bullpen session. Hermanson was
forced to call€a halt to a session last Sunday because he felt a little
pain and tightness in the area. Team physician Bill Morgan thought the
pain might have been caused by the tearing of adhesions that had built
up, and that still seems to be the cause. But Hermanson and the Sox will
know better when they see how Sunday's session turns out.
Around the bases
The White Sox swiped three bases last night, each of which came with
Frank Castillo on the mound. The opposition has stolen 11 bases off
Castillo, tied with Cleveland's Mark Wohlers for the dubious distinction
. . . Carlos Baerga's single boosted his pinch-hitting average to .375
(3 for 8) . . . The three hits were the fewest for the Sox since the
Yanks' Mike Mussina one-hit Boston last Sept. 2.
