ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- There wasn't a lot of drama to it, especially given the fact that neither Bill Mueller nor Manny Ramirez was in the Boston Red Sox' starting lineup yesterday.
But with the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter going 0 for 3 in the Bronx, Mueller claimed the American League batting title and Ramirez finished second, marking the third time in Red Sox history that Boston teammates finished one-two in the batting race.
Mueller, who went 0-for-1 in yesterday's 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field in the regular-season finale, ended the year batting .326 (.3263). Ramirez, the defending batting champion who did not appear in the game, finished at .325 (.3251), while Jeter completed his season at .324.
Mueller, who hit into an inning-ending bases-loaded forceout as a pinch hitter in the eighth after it was known what Jeter had done, won a batting title for the first time in his seven-year career. It was the first time Mueller, a career .286 hitter, finished a regular-duty season over .300.
"It's a very nice accomplishment, but we have a lot of baseball in front of us. Now we have to think about Oakland," said the low-key Mueller, referring to the playoffs, which begin Wednesday in Oakland.
"That kind of stuff has never really motivated me," said Mueller of the his batting crown. "My foundation has always been to be one of 25 guys, to help the team win however I could, whether it's moving the runner over or making a defensive play."
Little had no problem holding out Mueller and Ramirez yesterday, even with the batting title on the line.
"Everything we were doing this week was to prepare ourselves for the situations coming up for us now," said Little. "We rested regulars throughout the weekend."
Still, he was happy for Mueller, who exceeded expectations not only with his batting average but also with his extra-base pop (45 doubles, 19 homers) after signing a two-year free-agent deal with Boston last winter.
"We as a team pull for each other. We're all proud Billy was able to accomplish what he did. He's been very consistent," said Little.
Mueller's winning average of .326 was the lowest in the A.L. since 1972, when Minnesota's Rod Carew took the title at .318. It was the lowest winning average in the majors since 1991, when Atlanta's Terry Pendleton finished at .319.
He is the first switch hitter to win in the A.L. since the Yanks' Bernie Williams in 1998.
The Sox have had the league's top hitter four times in the last five years, with Nomar Garciaparra winning in 1999 and 2000, and Ramirez finishing first last season.
The rest of the day had its share of highs and lows.
Kevin Millar slugged a solo homer in the seventh, snapping a scoreless tie. David McCarty, playing left field, went 3 for 4.
Also of note were two outstanding pitching performances.
Byung-Hyun Kim was dominant in a one-inning stint. The submarine-style right-hander entered the game in the sixth and struck out the side, whiffing the meat of the Devil Rays' order -- Aubrey Huff, Rocco Baldelli and Travis Lee.
After apparently having lost his closer's job a week earlier in Cleveland, Kim has pitched in four games, allowing only one baserunner and no runs over that stretch.
Also shining yesterday was Bronson Arroyo. The right-hander, who is trying to force his way onto the playoff roster, worked three scoreless innings in relief of starter Tim Wakefield. Arroyo, who fanned four, has not allowed a run in his last seven innings, covering two appearances, and quite possibly will make the playoff roster at the expense of Jeff Suppan.
The only disappointment came in the bottom of the eighth when Brandon Lyon was touched up for four hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
