Boston changes gears, manufacturing runs and emphasizing strong pitching in a victory over Detroit.

08:40 AM EDT on Friday, August 27, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo The Sox' Bill Mueller tags out the Tigers' Carlos Guillen, ending a rundown in the second inning at Fenway Park last night.

BOSTON -- On their just-completed road trip, the Red Sox bashed their way to victory, reaching double figures in runs in three of their last five victories, wearing down opposing pitching staffs with an impressive display of power.

Returning home last night, they abruptly changed gears, extending their hot streak with an emphasis on strong pitching and a penchant for manufactured runs.

For now, at least, it's worth asking: Is there anything they can't do?

Riding Bronson Arroyo's best start in some time, the Sox trimmed the Detroit Tigers, 4-1, for their sixth win in their last seven games and 13th in their last 16.

"This team has come together," proclaimed catcher Doug Mirabelli. "We see the finish line and we know where we need to get to."

The Sox failed to gain on the Yankees in the A.L. East race and remained just two games ahead of the Texas Rangers in the wild-card chase. Still, their momentum is undeniable.

Mirroring that forward progress is Arroyo, who won his second straight start and third in his last four outings. Arroyo pitched into the eighth, and the one run he allowed was unearned.

"I think this start is the first time I've got two wins in a row," said Arroyo, who improved to 7-9 while lowering his E.R.A. to 4.04. "It's always nice to feel like you're getting on a roll, especially at the same time the team is playing well. It's coming down to the home stretch at the end of the season and you don't want to be the guy to go out there and kind of lose the momentum for the team."

He was aided by yet another strong relief showing by Mike Timlin, who retired the only two hitters he faced in the eighth before giving way to Keith Foulke, who easily chalked up his 24th save.

Arroyo battled some early wildness, walking two in the first inning before fanning Rondell White for the third out. A leadoff double proved harmless in the second, but the Tigers nicked him for a run in the third on a bizarre sequence.

With Omar Infante on third and one out, Mirabelli attempted to throw down to third to catch Infante napping. But his throw struck the bat of hitter Pudge Rodriguez, enabling Infante to trot home.

Thereafter, however, Arroyo faced just two hitters over the minimum through the seventh inning. He was strongest in the middle of the game, striking out the side in the fifth and using his curveball with maximum efficiency.

"I had excellent command of it," Arroyo said. "I felt like I could have thrown it for a strike any time I wanted."

The win was only his third at home this season, in his 11th Fenway start.

Arroyo was presented with a 1-0 lead in the first when David Ortiz doubled to the gap in left center, scoring Johnny Damon from second. After the Sox failed to capitalize on a first-and-third chance in the second, Bill Mueller led off the fourth with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by No. 9 hitter Dave Roberts.

The Sox boosted their lead to 3-1 in the fifth when Manny Ramirez doubled, advanced to third on a single by Ortiz and scored when Kevin Millar hit into a double play.

Finally, after Roberts bunted over Mueller (single) and Mirabelli (walk) in the eighth, Mark Bellhorn, who had fanned in each of his first three plate appearances, singled to left.

"It's huge (to score runs via small ball)," said Roberts, who earned his third consecutive start and contributed a single, a stolen base, a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt, "especially when you it gets late in the season and you have to learn how to win low-scoring games.

"We're going to have a lot of guys on base. It's just a matter of executing."

Roberts received a standing ovation for his bunt -- a Sox rarity, to be sure; they had just eight sacrifices before last night -- as he trotted to the dugout, leaving him astounded.

"Never in my life," he said, shaking his head. "That's a credit to the fans here. They get it. They appreciate the game of baseball."

These days, with the Sox surging, there's not much to dislike.