Burnett beats Red Sox with outstanding three-hit outing
Toronto right-hander now 4-0 lifetime against Boston
Last Updated: Thursday, May 1, 2008 | 11:39 PM ET
CBC Sports
Boston's Manny Ramirez tosses his bat after Toronto starter A.J. Burnett struck him out in the first inning. Burnett dominated the Sox into the seventh inning on the way to the victory. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)Looks like A.J. Burnett's fingernail is all better.
The Toronto hurler, who has been waiting impatiently for a nail on his right (pitching) hand to grow back after an off-season accident so he can throw his curve ball regularly, had his whole repertoire at his fingertips on Thursday night.
He tossed a dominant seven-plus innings in a 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
It was the third straight outstanding game by a Toronto pitcher in this series and the first victory, as the club wrapped up a horrible road trip 2-7, for a season record of 12-17.
Tim Wakefield (2-1) took the loss as Boston fell to 17-13.
Scott Rolen had an RBI single and Vernon Wells brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. Alex Rios closed out the scoring in the seventh with his third homer of the season and first since April 19.
A.J. finishes with a flourish
Burnett was strongest at the end, striking out three of the last four hitters he faced.
"My fastball was going everywhere tonight, which is a good thing," Burnett said. "Just a good 'W' for us to get back on track."
Left-hander Jesse Carlson came in to get the final out of the eighth.
B.J. Ryan picked up his third save in a strange bottom of the ninth.
He had a runner on first and two outs when Coco Crisp lifted one to right field for what should have been the final out. The second base umpire called a balk, however, and Crisp went back to the plate.
He then singled to right, putting Brandon Moss on third and the tying run at the plate.
Crisp took second on catcher's indifference but Ryan, steamed, struck out Jed Lowrie to end the game.
Burnett showed his strength in the sixth when, with one out, he put Ortiz and Ramirez on via a single and walk. But the right-hander hunkered down and got Mike Lowell to fly out to deep left and then struck out Brandon Moss to end the threat.
When Rios came to the plate to open the seventh, he hammered a knuckleball from Wakefield high up over the Green Monster in left field for the final score of the night.
"I didn't have the command I would like to have," Wakefield said. "You've got to tip your cap to A.J., though, because he did a great job for them."
Jays take the lead
Rolen brought the first run across in the third inning, cashing Rios with a two-out single to right off Wakefield. Rios had singled and stolen second.
The Jays were looking for more an inning later, filling the bases with two outs before Rios sent a long drive towards the left-field wall that Manny Ramirez ran down and caught with an outstretched glove.
To that point, Toronto was one-for-five with runners in scoring position and would finish the game 2-10 (6-for-64 over the road trip).
A little defence with men on the sacks got Burnett out of trouble in the bottom of the fourth.
With two on and one out, Brandon Moss put a laser past the pitcher that was heading for centre field until Aaron Hill dove to his right and snagged the shot. He got up and stepped on second, forcing David Ortiz and completing the double play.
Classic Fenway mistake
A couple of former National Leaguers showed their lack of experience at Fenway Park in a Toronto fifth that began with David Eckstein and Rolen reaching base with none out.
Matt Stairs singled to left off the Green Monster but Eckstein and Rolen both misread the fly ball.
Eckstein didn't take off on contact and when he rounded third realized he had no chance and had to stop. But Rolen was already chugging into third so after a rundown, Eckstein had to give himself up for the first out.
A sacrifice fly by Wells scored Rolen to make it 2-0, but it could have been a much better inning.
