Kevin Millar's two-run homer in the 11th inning propels Boston, which now trails New York by just 2 1/2 games with five to play.

12:58 PM EDT on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo Kevin Millar hits an 11th-inning, two-run home run off Tampa Bay's Danys Baez last night in St. Petersburg to win the game, 10-8.

Slideshow

View a slideshow of photos from yesterday's Red Sox game.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- After rinsing themselves of the celebratory champagne from the night before, a letdown for the Red Sox last night might have been understood, perhaps even expected.

Instead, the Sox locked up with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in a game that featured five lead changes and more pitching changes than either team would have preferred.

Finally, in a reprise of the second game of his Red Sox career some 18 months ago, Kevin Millar supplied an extra-inning, game-winning homer to send the Sox to a 10-8 triumph.

The win was Boston's fourth in succession and moved them to within 2 1/2 games of the idle first-place Yankees. New York's magic number to clinch a seventh straight American League East title remains at four.

"This one was nice," said a satisfied Millar, who drove a fastball from Danys Baez into the left field seats, scoring pinch-runner Gabe Kapler ahead of him. "We're still right there (in the A.L. East race)."

The homer invoked memories of Millar's 14th-inning pinch-hit homer in the second game of the Red Sox' 2003 season, which provided the club's first win that year.

Keith Foulke, the seventh Red Sox pitcher of the night, earned his 31st save of the season.

In fact, the Boston bullpen as a whole was a key to the game, holding the Rays hitless and scoreless over the final six innings. Alan Embree, Scott Williamson and Pedro Astacio all pitched scoreless frames while Ramiro Mendoza, who earned the win, blanked the Rays for two innings.

"We came out ready to win again," said Johnny Damon, who cleared the bases with a triple in the four-run fourth. "We plan to go out there and win out -- that's the best we can do. It's not like we're giving up on the division. We're going out there trying to to get wins."

Prior to Millar's heroics, the last best scoring chance the Sox enjoyed came in the sixth when, after Ramirez doubled home Cabrera to tie the game at 8-8, the Sox loaded the bases.

But with one out, Doug Mirabelli grounded into an inning-ending double-play. The Sox didn't get another baserunner into scoring position until the 11th when David Ortiz doubled to right-center. Ortiz gave way to Kapler before Millar launched his 19th homer.

With an ineffective Derek Lowe putting the Sox in a 5-1 hole, the Sox were forced to scrap from the early innings. Damon's triple in the fourth tied it before a run-scoring single from Jose Cruz Jr. off Terry Adams in the bottom of the inning gave the Rays the lead anew.

Run-scoring doubles from Mirabelli and Doug Mientkiewicz in the fifth put the Sox ahead, 7-6, but just as quickly, Brook Fordyce's two-run homer off Adams sent the see-saw tipping Tampa's way once again, 8-7.

The Sox pulled even in the sixth when Ramirez doubled home Orlando Cabrera, and it remained 8-8 until Millar struck.

"It's not the way we wanted to do it," said Francona. "But we do have that trait of coming back. I think we played like (we want to win the division). We used a lot of people (15 position players and seven pitchers) and kept battling."

Lowe did nothing to help his bid to become part of the postseason rotatation with his second short outing in his last three starts.

Of the 15 Tampa Bay batters he faced, ten reached base.

"Obviously, we wished he had pitched better tonight," said Francona. "He was up with his pitches and behind in the count a lot. Then, the blister broke open (on his thumb) and there was no reason to have him out there because he was not having success."

"Poor pitching," insisted Lowe, not hiding behind the blister as an excuse. "I really haven't been pitching all that well (of late). That's all I can really say. I've got to look at the big picture -- we picked up a half-game on the Yankees and put ourselves in a good spot for the last five games."

Aubrey Huff singled home a run in the first, while two more runners crossed the plate in the second after the first three Rays of the inning reached base.

By the time the third inning rolled around, Lowe allowed a leadoff double, a single, a sacrifice fly and a walk, bringing Francona to the mound.

Over his last three starts, Lowe has pitched a combined 8 1/3 innings, allowing 21 hits and 15 earned runs.

"People remember your last month, as well they should," Lowe said. "The decision is going to be made (about the playoff rotation). I don't have any idea where they're going (with it). All I know is we're going to the playoffs."