What started as a superb pitching duel between two aces wound up as a star turn by Coco Crisp -- first on the bases and then in the field.

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 30, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The focus was on some old arms last night at Fenway Park, with Boston's 39-year-old ace right-hander Curt Schilling matching up against the New York Mets' 40-year-old ace left-hander Tom Glavine.

And they did justice to the hype, combining to fashion a scoreless duel through five innings.

But it was the young legs of 26-year-old Coco Crisp, plus the Red Sox' sudden and successful transformation into a National League-style team, that propelled Boston to a 4-2 victory over the Mets at Fenway Park.

Crisp's beautifully deadened leadoff bunt single in front of the plate, a first-pitch stolen base that came courtesy of a huge jump, a nicely executed sacrifice bunt by Alex Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis' sacrifice fly to left manufactured the run that snapped a 2-2 tie in N.L.-like fashion.

And Crisp's speed saved the game defensively, too. Crisp ran down David Wright's potential score-tying two-out gapper off Mike Timlin in the eighth, backhanding the ball a few inches off the ground with an all-out dive in left-center.

Jonathan Papelbon (24th save), given a little extra breathing room on David Ortiz's solo homer to dead center in the eighth, preserved a well-deserved win for Schilling (10-2). As a result, the Sox expanded their winning streak to 12 games (all against N.L. East teams), including a spotless 9-0 at Fenway on this giddy homestand, which came to an end last night.

Boston posted three-game sweeps of Washington, Philadelphia and then the Mets, who boast the best record in the N.L.

And not coincidentally to the team's recent run of success, the Red Sox last night also played their 16th game in a row without committing an error, establishing an A.L. record and tying the N.L. record, held by the 1992 St. Louis Cardinals. Boston third baseman Mike Lowell, second baseman Mark Loretta and Youkilis, the first baseman, each turned in a gem in coming to Schilling's aid early.

Crisp's play, though, was a little more breathtaking and of more immediate import as the Red Sox moved four games ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East, their biggest lead of the season.

"Under the circumstances, the time of the game, the score, I don't think I've ever seen a better play. That was an incredible play," Boston manager Terry Francona said.

While Schilling turned in yet another big performance against an ace from the opposing staff, permitting two runs in seven innings, it was the play of Crisp, liberally listed as a 6-footer, that stood tallest.

It all began for Crisp in the batter's box in the seventh. He faked a bunt and took a pitch from Aaron Heilman for a strike, but then decided to do something he doesn't normally do, and with great success.

"I was going to bunt the first pitch. It was a perfect pitch (to bunt), but I just didn't follow through on what I was thinking," said Crisp. "I don't usually bunt with one strike, but (Mets third baseman Chris Woodward) was playing back. I got a changeup and was able to put it down."

The ball was picked up by catcher Paul Lo Duca. He started to throw to first, but realized he had no chance to get Crisp.

As he stood on first base, Crisp recalled a conversation he had had in the dugout only moments earlier.

"Before the at-bat, Terry (Francona) came over to me and said, 'You can steal off this guy,' " said Crisp.

Crisp expected Heilman to throw over to first before throwing his first pitch to the next hitter, Gonzalez, to see whether Gonzalez would give away the fact he was going to bunt. Crisp easily got back. And when Heilman went to the plate with his first pitch to Gonzalez, Crisp took off. His huge jump gave Lo Duca no chance.

Then Gonzalez put down his pretty bunt, Youkilis came through with his fly ball, and Crisp was across the plate and accepting high fives in the dugout with Boston on top, 3-2.

"That was textbook," said Crisp.

But Crisp's moment in the sun lasted longer. With Carlos Beltran on first and two outs, Wright crushed a 3-and-1 pitch to left-center. Crisp, though, flew to the Sox' rescue.

"I was playing him a little over (in right-center)," said Crisp. "I got a pretty good jump. I didn't know if I could catch it, so I went straight at it. I took a leap of faith. I was going full-speed so I was able to hang in the air just long enough to make the catch.

"I was just asked the other day which I'd rather do, hit a game-winning homer or make a game-winning catch. I said I would rather make a game-winning catch. That was a great feeling. I take a lot of pride in my fielding," said Crisp.

And while the highlight-reel robbed the Mets of the tying run, even New York manager Willie Randolph appreciated the effort.

"It was a great catch," said Randolph. "He stretches out like that and makes an unbelievable catch. You just have to tip your hat. He closed the gap real quick on a do-or-die play. He came up big."

Francona was left to marvel not only at Crisp's heroics, but the play of his team overall.

"I thought tonight we played as good a game as we've played in a long time," said Francona. "We got a bunt down, we ran the bases, we played defense. We played a very good game against a very good team. We did a lot of big things well, but we also did a lot of little things well, too."

All of which explains not only why Boston won last night, but why the Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball as they head to Miami for a three-game set with the Marlins beginning tonight.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340