BOSTON -- While Nomar Garciaparra is struggling hitting in any spot in the lineup this month, Todd Walker is happy right where he is.
Manager Grady Little flip-flopped Walker and Garciaparra between the second and third spots in the order three games ago, and Walker has certainly played like the move fits him well.
Walker delivered the key hit of the game last night when he smashed a game-tying three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Garciaparra is hitting only .177 this month, but Walker says he's hit out of the third spot for much of his career and doesn't like the bottom of the order at all.
"It's an honor, in this lineup, to hit third," said Walker, who had two hits and is now at .372 this month. "We've got nine guys who could hit third."
Walker also thinks having a lefty-righty-lefty-righty lineup (Johnny Damon, Garciaparra, Walker, Ramirez) gives opposing pitchers more to think about. If he keeps hitting dramatic blows like he did last night, Little will jot Walker's name anywhere Walker wants it. Walker called the homer the biggest of his life, especially considering the Sox are honing in on a spot in the playoffs.
"If Seattle loses tonight, we're 3 1/2 up. I think that'll make everybody feel a lot better," he said. "But even at two and a half up with five games to play, we feel pretty confident that we can get the job done."
Walker, who now has 83 RBI and gives the Sox eight players with 80 or more RBI, said the Sox have enjoyed so many late-game wins that the team's confidence is always high.
"I just think that carries over," he said. "When that situation comes up again, you're less likely to think you're out. You won't quit. If we're in the first round of the playoffs and we're in that situation, you believe that it's possible. You'd have a tendency to give up, but this team doesn't give up."
Singing his praises
Last night's other hero, David Ortiz, said he didn't even notice what his teammates were yelling when they mobbed him at home plate after his game-winning home run in the 10th inning. Walker said some of the Sox were attempting to sing the Latin song played over the Fenway sound system before Ortiz steps to the plate. Ortiz laughed and admitted his pals "don't know those words."
Ortiz then praised the Red Sox fans who stuck around and witnessed one of the biggest thrills of the season.
"Right now we are worried about winning games, give to this city and these great fans so they see a championship," Ortiz said. "They deserve it. You saw -- we were down by three runs and they were still out there. That's the reason why we won. They deserve this ball club to give them a championship."
Relievers confident
Shaky bullpen? What shaky bullpen?
That was the reaction from Mike Timlin, perhaps the only member of the Boston pen who has enjoyed any kind of consistency this season. Timlin, 37, leads the Sox in appearances with 71, and he says the bullpen is ready to do the job as the team tries to wrap up a playoff berth and do some damage in October.
"Everybody seems to have questions about the bullpen except the bullpen itself," he said. "That just shows me we have confidence in ourselves and what we do. Obviously, it's never going to go 1, 2, 3 all the time. I know everybody would like that, as would we. But it's not going to happen that way. But you accept that and you go on to the next day."
Last night, the pen played to mixed reviews. Embattled lefty Scott Sauerbeck came on for Tim Wakefield in the eighth inning and fell into a slight jam with runners on first and second and two outs. Sauerbeck did a fine job, though, striking out Jack Cust with a slow, 73 mph curveball to end the threat.
In the ninth, Bronson Arroyo came in and worked to a two-on, two-out spot, and Jay Gibbons delivered a two-run single to right that pushed the Orioles' lead to 5-2.
Walker saved the day in the bottom of the ninth with a three-run homer to tie the game that gave Byung-Hyun Kim a chance for the win. Kim set the Orioles down easily and picked up the victory (8-5, 16 saves) when Ortiz hit the winning home run in the 10th. Kim now has a win and two saves in the last three games. He has not allowed an earned run in 11 appearances this month.
Timlin said he's not concerned about numbers at this stage of the season. "At this point of the season, stats go out the window," said Timlin. "I don't care if we have a 10-run lead and we give up seven runs. If we win, the bottom line is the 'W.' "
Shooting for 30
With his next stolen base, Damon will run his way into select company among Red Sox base thieves. Damon is shooting for his 30th steal for the second consecutive season. He racked up 31 last season.
Only two other Red Sox have posted 30-plus steals in back-to-back seasons, and it hasn't happened in 89 years. Tris Speaker (1912-14) did it three years in a row, and Harry Hooper (1910-11) was the first Red Sox player to have consecutive stolen-base seasons. Speaker stole 30 or more bases in five seasons, by far the most in club history.
Field in good shape
Fenway Park received heavy rain in mid-afternoon, resulting in large puddles covering the warning tracks and the red clay area behind home plate. The rain stopped by 5 p.m., and the grounds crew got the field into playing shape in time for the first pitch at 7:05.
