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Sox Clinch

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- As soon as Boston polished off Minnesota, 5-2, last night at Fenway Park, the Red Sox retreate to their clubhouse to watch the Yankees and the Orioles' game, well aware that if Baltimore came from behind for a victory, the American League East title would be theirs.

Boston's magic number was one. And when the Orioles came from behind for a 10-9, 10-inning win against New York, the title for the Red Sox, their first divisional crown since 1995, was secured, sparking a celebration in the clubhouse and in the stands, where about 2,000 fans stayed to watch the Yankee-Orioles game on the video screen in center field.

There was no plastic in front of the lockers in the Red Sox' clubhouse, but most of the players were in a celebratory mood.

Many of the Sox went upstairs to their lounge to watch the game. Others stood around the clubhouse watching one of the three TVs in the clubhouse, outnumbered greatly by the media in the room to catch their reactions.

And when the improbable happened, a three-run rally off great Yankee closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth, Mike Timlin jumped out of his seat and high-fived Javy Lopez.

Around those pair of Red Sox, teammates Coco Crisp, Brandon Moss, Jon Lester, Eric Hinske, Kevin Cash, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz jumped off the couch and other chairs in a corner of the room, a collective "Yeah!" arising from their throats as Jay Payton's bases-loaded, two-out hit rolled to the wall in left-center for a three-run double that pulled Baltimore even, at 9-9.

Boston's PR director, John Blake, then announced the clubhouse was closed to the media, forcing at least 50 or so media members to leave the room to the Sox.

By that time, several members of the Red Sox already had dressed and left the clubhouse, notably captain and catcher Jason Varitek and slugger David Ortiz.

But outside there were about 2,000 people still in the stands at Fenway because the Red Sox were showing the Yankee-Orioles game on the video board in center field, cheering madly when Baltimore tied the game.

There was concern in the stands when the Yanks filled the bases in the top of the 10th with one out, but again, loud cheers when ex-Soxer Chad Bradford was able to wriggle out of the inning unscathed, keeping it a 9-9 game.

And when Tike Redman blooped a one-out double into the left-field corner off Edwar Ramirez, the Orioles had the winning run in scoring position and the cheers from the fans standing in the aisles behind the Red Sox dugout along the first-base line were loud, growing even louder after a passed ball moved Redman to third.

A pair of walks filled the bases for none other than ex-Cowboy-Up Soxer, Kevin Millar. He fanned. But Melvin Mora dropped down a surprise bunt for a game-winning hit, making the Sox champions of the A.L. East.

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:38 PM | Permalink