"It's highly frustrating because the ball club's trying to scrap and get back in this thing," Foulke said. "I can't express to you how disappointed I am."
The defeat dropped the Sox 9 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees, dangerously close to the largest deficit they have overcome to win the division, 10 games in 1988. The loss also overshadowed an impressive night of redemption for Millar, who scored a measure of revenge against his nagging critics with his first three-homer game.
Millar, who mustered only five homers in his first 85 games, has hit five in his last three. He became only the second Sox player to homer three times in a game against the Yankees, joining Mo Vaughn, who accomplished the feat May 30, 1997. But he was left to marvel at the Yankees.
"Their lineup's ridiculous," Millar said. "Sheffield's at-bat off Foulke was unbelievable. [Alex Rodriguez] gets a big hit to get them ahead. They just keep coming at you."
Foulke, who had blown four of his previous seven save opportunities, was unable to extend the 7-7 standoff as he surrendered a one-out double high off the Wall on a changeup to Sheffield and a single off the bottom of the scoreboard on a fastball to A-Rod. Never mind that both balls may have been outs in many other parks. Foulke has surrendered runs in four of his last six appearances and is 1-3 with as many blown saves (five) as saves since he started the season 1-0 with 10 straight saves. But he made no excuses.
"I'm in a terrible rut," he said. "Every time I go out there I'm giving up at least one run. There's no question about it, I'm not happy with the way I'm throwing the ball."
After the Sox were jarred by the go-ahead run in the ninth, they were unable to counter against Yankees ubercloser Mariano Rivera as Manny Ramirez flied out, Nomar Garciaparra (who turned 31 yesterday) grounded out, and Trot Nixon popped out in foul territory.
The defeat dropped the Sox to 37-38 over their last 75 games after they started the season 15-6.
