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April 24, 2007
BOSTON -- There were more people in Fenway Park tonight -- 37,161 -- than there've been at any time since World War II.
Too bad they didn't get to see a better ballgame.
The Blue Jays broke open a close game with a pair of runs in the top of fifth inning, then put it out of reach with four unearned runs in the sixth as they beat the Red Sox, 10-3, tonight and swept the two-game series.
The new modern attendance record was the result of several areas of new seating, both standing room and in the aluminum-bleacher "Conigliaro's Corner" on the right-field roof, added this offseason. The Sox approached, but didn't quite reach, the 37,000 mark on Friday night against the Yankees. There is less seating for day games because two areas of the bleachers are cordoned off to help the hitters sight lines.
The team drew crowds higher than 37,000 prior to the war, when fire laws were looser and fans were allowed to cram in virtually every corner of the field . . . including some allowed to stand on the field, in foul territory.
The game was tied 1-1 in the third when the Jays scored three. The Sox had battled back to 4-3 by the top of the fifth, but the Blue Jays scored two more to make it 6-3. Then they ended the suspense with four unearned runs in the top of the sixth.
Frank Thomas doubled off the base of the left-field wall, driving in Alex Rios and Adam Lind and giving Toronto a 3-1 lead. Lyle Overbay then hit a bouncer to the left side that second baseman Dustin Pedroia had lined up. But first baseman Eric Hinske cut in front of him and the ball caromed off his glove. The official scorer gave Overbay an RBI, ruling Wells would have scored even if the play had been made (he was running as the ball was hit).
The error was one of four made by Boston, the most the Red Sox committed in a game since Sept. 9, 2005.
In the bottom of the third, the Sox got a run back. Julio Lugo beat out an infield hit, stole second, and came home when Hinske singled to right, a line drive that Rios just barely missed as he dove for the ball.
Mike Lowell homered with one out in the fourth, making it 4-3. But the Blue Jays made it 6-3 on a two-out, two-run double off the wall in left by Overbay, scoring Lind and Wells, both of whom had singled with one out.
The Red Sox lifted starter Julian Tavarez after Overbay's double in favor of Kyle Snyder, Tavarez labored all night, throwing 85 pitches and surrendering seven hits and six runs in his 4 2/3 innings.
In the top of the sixth, Wily Mo Pena flubbed a line drive by Lind with two runners on and two outs, dropping the ball and allowing the seventh Blue Jay run to score. Wells singled home two more as the Toronto lead went to 9-3.
Toronto manager John Gibbons then had Wells steal with a six-run lead, and the move paid off in another run. Wells was not only safe but he went to third on an errant throw by catcher Jason Varitek. Thomas then singled him in, making it 10-3.
Wells' four hits and four runs scored both matched his career highs.
Toronto had opened the scoring with a two-out solo home run from Wells in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, David Ortiz singled home Lugo to tie the score. Lugo had singled, stolen second, and moved to third on an infield grounder by Hinske.
Posted by Art Martone 
at 9:59 PM | Permalink
