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 Punishment Three Tigers ejected, Easley hit thrice in 8-7 defeat
Posted: Monday May 31, 1999 07:21 PM
BOSTON (AP) -- A weird ejection during a wild comeback ignited some frustrations for the Detroit Tigers, as well as capped a crazy day for the surging Boston Red Sox. Jason Varitek had a pinch-hit two-run homer and Troy O'Leary added a two-run homer in a four-run seventh inning that saw three Tigers ejected during Boston's 8-7 win on Monday. "It was a day game but I was looking for the moon," Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said. "There were some strange things going on." Like Detroit's Damion Easley getting hit by pitches three times in the game, tying a major league record. But the hit batsman that caused all the controversy didn't involve Easley. Trailing 6-4 in the seventh, the Red Sox rallied against reliever Matt Anderson (1-1), who entered with one out and a man on first. Varitek, the first batter he faced, homered over the bullpen in right to tie the game. After Nomar Garciaparra singled, O'Leary lofted an opposite field, wind-aided homer into the left-field screen. Anderson then hit Mike Stanley with a 3-2 pitch on his side. As Stanley walked slowly to first, Anderson was ejected, prompting a wild argument that saw catcher Brad Ausmus and manager Larry Parrish tossed by plate umpire Chuck Meriwether. "You can't work a count to 3-and-2 on a guy and try to hit him," Ausmus said. "I think Chuck jumped the gun there. You just have to use some common sense." Just over a week ago in Cleveland, the same umpiring crew ejected C.J. Nitkowski during a brawl-filled contest. He was later suspended for two games. "The kid's frustrated. If he's going to throw at anybody, he's going to do it right away," Parrish said. "The way he's throwing now I don't think he could hit anybody if he wanted to." Brian Daubach added a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who won for the 19th time in 24 games and finished 20-8 in May, their most wins in May since going 21-7 in 1986. "There's a lot of weird stuff going on out there," Varitek said. "If you don't quit you never know what can happen." Garciaparra lost the first ball hit in the sun for a double in the first inning and starter Mark Portugal couldn't make a throw to first when he handled a comebacker after his left shoulder popped out and back in the second inning. But Boston, which fell behind 6-1 after three innings, overcame the strange early happenings to post its 12th win in 14 games in Fenway Park. John Wasdin (4-0) worked one inning for the win. Tom Gordon pitched the ninth for his 11th save. He has converted a major league-record 54 straight save opportunities in the regular season. Gabe Kapler and Bobby Higginson had solo homers for the Tigers, who built a five-run lead against Portugal. Early on, the Red Sox looked nothing like the team that was coming off a three-game weekend sweep of Cleveland, the best team in the majors. On the game's first pitch, Luis Polonia reached second when Garciaparra lost a ball in the sun for a double. Portugal hit Easley before Higginson had an RBI double and Dean Palmer added a sacrifice fly. After Garciaparra's RBI single made it 2-1 in the bottom of the first, Kapler led off the second with a homer. Polonia added an RBI double and scored on Ausmus' fielder's choice. Higginson homered into the right-field seats leading off the third to make it 6-1. After its sloppy start, Boston turned four nice defensive plays and rallied to cut the score to 6-4. Daubach hit his two-run homer in the fifth and Creighton Gubanich had an RBI single in the sixth. Palmer's solo homer off reliever Derek Lowe cut it to 8-7 in the eighth. Portugal was tagged for six runs and seven hits in three innings. Notes: It was the 19th time a player has been hit three times in a nine-inning game. Houston's Glenn Davis was the last player to be hit three times, on April 9, 1990. ... The second inning was rough on both starting pitchers in the field. Deivi Cruz was credited with a single when Portugal stretched his left arm above his head to grab a high grounder, but failed to make a throw. After a few warmups, he remained in the game. Williams said afterward that the shoulder popped out and back in. In the bottom of the inning, Offerman singled off the inside of Bryce Florie's right forearm. He also stayed in the game. ... Higginson's homer was the 100th of his career. ... The Tigers' staff held opponents to a .255 average entering the game, the AL's second-lowest mark. ... The Red Sox were 12-3 in Fenway during May. ... Florie pitched six innings, giving up four runs, three earned. ... Bret Saberhagen is scheduled to come off the disabled list and start Tuesday.
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