In a perfect ending to a memorable struggle on a glorious day in the Fens, McCarty swatted a 90-mile-an-hour fastball into the bleachers in dead center for a two-run, walkoff homer that lifted the Sox to a 9-7 victory before a delirious 35,046 who celebrated to the rocking rhythm of "Dirty Water." McCarty's blast made the Sox a perfect 8 for 8 with four doubles, two homers, and 10 RBIs this season on 3-0 counts when they have put the ball in play.
"It feels good," the reserved McCarty said of his biggest hit in 52 games since the Sox claimed him off waivers last August from the A's. "I don't know if I've ever had a walk-off home run."
The first walk-off shot in McCarty's memory vaulted the Sox back into first place in the American League East and capped a battle of attrition that ultimately left the injury-riddled Sox fielding a team that looked more like the best of Triple A Pawtucket. McCarty knocked in Jason Varitek, who reached when Putz plunked him with a 72-mile-an-hour curveball.
"I just think it was important we were able to come back," Varitek said, "with so many people contributing."
Notable among them were recent alums of the PawSox: Andy Dominique, whose first hit in the majors was a run-scoring single in the eighth that helped to nullify Foulke's blown save in the top of the inning; Kevin Youkilis, who went 3 for 5, was hit by a pitch, and scored three runs; and Anastacio Martinez, who stymied the Mariners in the 11th and 12th innings to pick up his second win. They finished the game for the Sox along with the likes of McCarty and Cesar Crespo.
"I am not putting anybody down, but that was a team we ran out there a lot at the end of games down in Fort Myers," Francona said. "That says a lot for the guys we have."
They helped to stage the 13th come-from-behind victory of the season for the Sox in a game that earlier seemed completely in Schilling's clutches. Known by some as the new sheriff in town after he helped Westwood police last week nab an alleged drunken driver, Schilling made his quest for perfection under the gaze of the nation's top law enforcement official, US Attorney General John Ashcroft, who watched from a rooftop suite.
