This was a team in need of an offensive explosion after a 2-4 road trip that raised questions about managerial philosophy on resting star players and the team's unwillingness to bunt runners along and manufacture runs.
None of those issues came up last night.
"Very nice," Francona said. "Having Trot [Nixon] and Nomar back, we've talked about it so much, but that was a great example tonight. You've got one of the best hitters in the league and they elect not to pitch to him and you face another one of the best hitters in the league, so that's the way it's supposed to work."
Francona was referring to the Twins walking Manny Ramirez to load the bases in the seventh to pitch to Garciaparra with the score 4-1. Garciparra drilled reliever Joe Roa's first pitch into the center-field bleachers.
"Not a good feeling to have to walk the bases loaded for Garciaparra," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's not a good feeling for a manager. When you're in that situation, you're pretty much, as my dad would say, `up a creek without a paddle.' "
Part of the story was the Sox fielding a lineup that resembled for the first time this season the one that set records last year. Jason Varitek (2 for 4), who has had to bat higher in the lineup most of the season, was at the bottom (eighth), with David Ortiz, Ramirez, Garciaparra, and Nixon in spots 3 through 6.
The well-rested Ramirez reached base four times (including a pair of walks, one intentional); Ortiz had three hits, including a home run and double; Garciaparra hit the slam in his fourth at-bat; and Nixon doubled in the seventh inning and was robbed of extra bases in the fourth on a great catch by right fielder Jacque Jones. Ortiz, Ramirez, and Garciaparra knocked in eight of the nine runs.
Francona was hoping his lineup would resemble Grady Little's at some point. (Maybe Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, a pregame visitor, gave Francona a few pointers.) Of course, one outburst of nine runs and 13 hits does not a Murderers' Row make. Francona acknowledged that the offense has not yet hit its stride, but "if we stay healthy and run that lineup out there, we're going to have some long innings."
One such inning was the seventh, in which the Sox blew open a a 3-1 game with six runs.
