His one-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning makes up for two earlier errors, one of them questionable but costly, as the Sox outlast the Rangers.

09:04 AM EDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- It had not been the best of nights for Edgar Renteria.

Indeed, it couldn't have been much worse as last night's game between Boston and Texas ground its way past the four-hour mark and into the 10th inning.

The Red Sox shortstop was 0 for 5, and he had committed two errors -- one on a disputed umpire's call -- leading to three unearned runs.

In baseball, though, what happened previously in a game doesn't matter. Professionals can put bad at-bats and errors behind them and concentrate on the task at hand, which is just what Renteria did, bouncing a game-winning single inside the third-base bag with one out in the 10th inning, giving Boston an 8-7 walkoff victory.

Renteria's single into the corner off Kevin Gryboski delivered Bill Mueller from second base, making a winner of Curt Schilling, who pitched the final two innings, stranding the go-ahead run at third base in the top of the 10th.

The Red Sox even -- you better sit down for this -- dropped down a sacrifice bunt, helping them in the 10th. After Mueller won a nine-pitch battle with a single, Alex Cora nicely executed the Sox' ninth sacrifice bunt of the year, and an intentional walk to Johnny Damon set the stage for Renteria.

AP photo

Edgar Renteria, right, is congratulated by Curt Schilling and others after his 10-inning single drove in the winning run in last night's 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers.

The only unfortunate note of the night was that the bullpen tandem of newly acquired Mike Remlinger and Chad Bradford torched a 7-2 lead in the seventh, depriving Matt Clement of a well deserved win.

But the net result was what counted most, and the victory boosted Boston's division lead to 4 1/2 games over the New York Yankees.

"I felt bad the whole game," said Renteria. "Clement pitched a great game. I made an error. But we keep playing, 9 or 10 innings."

"There is something to be said for persistence," said Boston manager Terry Francona.

Last night, Renteria personified persistence.

He bobbled a routine chopper hit by Phil Nevin in the fourth inning, leading to an unearned run that tied the game at 1-1. Then, in the seventh, Renteria thought he had held onto a forceout throw from Mueller at second base long enough to record an out.

Umpire Bill Miller, though, saw the ball squirt out of Renteria's glove and called the baserunner safe, ruling the infielder hadn't maintained possession of it long enough for the out. That opinion was hotly disputed by Francona, but to no avail. And the error led to the Rangers' game-tying five-spot.

"I thought I held it long enough," said Renteria. "I saw the replay. I think I got it. But they're human. You have to turn the page."

Clearly, after over nine years in the big leagues, Renteria has learned how to do just that. And he came to Boston -- for four years and $40 million -- with a reputation as being a clutch late-inning performer.

"Every time you come up you have a chance to do something positive," said Mueller.

And though Renteria hasn't had the monster season some people might have been expecting after signing the big free-agent deal, he was positive he could come through last night.

"I've got a lot of confidence in that situation," said Renteria.

Familiarity with Gryboski helped, too. He knew Gryboski would throw him sinkers. He was trying to make Gryboski get one up. Renteria got ahead in the count at 2 and 0, worked the count full and then took advantage of a sinker that didn't sink for the game-winning hit.

"That's the game. I never give up. I fight to the last moment," said Renteria.

He wasn't the only one showing moxie. Clement, who only two starts ago was drilled off the right side of the head by a Carl Crawford line drive, took a hard one-hopper by Gary Matthews off the back of his right leg with one out in the sixth. But he shook it off, even smiling wryly at the situation, which was nowhere near as scary as the July 26 incident.

And then there was Schilling. He was in for the duration. Schilling worked a spotless ninth and survived a one-out double in the 10th. He may be headed for the rotation soon, especially with Wade Miller going on the DL yesterday, but in the meantime he is getting comfortable in his bullpen role.

"I felt great physically. I've learned my bullpen approach and what I need to bring out to the game. You can't overthrow. You have to locate because your margin for error is so small," said Schilling.

"I was locating, and when I needed to reach back for something I had something on the ball," he said.

And thanks to a bit of redemption from Renteria, Schilling and the Red Sox had a win, too.