Nixon's hit -- a liner to right that plated David Ortiz -- brought the team out to meet him at the first base bag, where commenced much bouncing and whooping, all in celebration of the club's 22d win in 31 games dating to that seminal evening of July 26.
Nixon's hit was appropriate in its drama, a fitting ending to a very eventful tale spun before the 206th consecutive full house on Yawkey Way.
This game included: warnings for both dugouts in the first inning (after Scott Kazmir hit a batter with his first pitch of the night); Schilling allowing five runs on seven hits through two innings, then no runs on two hits over his closing four innings, with his 97th and final pitch registering at 94 miles per hour; an ejection of a Tampa Bay coach (no, not Lou Piniella); a key play at the plate (Nixon erased Toby Hall to end the Tampa Bay eighth); and Johnny Damon, who was supposed to miss a few days, sparking a two-run, eighth-inning rally that tied the game at 6-6.
Nixon's throw to the plate is a good place to begin, given that it was as important as his single that would win it. Tampa Bay was ahead, 6-4. Hall, the catcher, was at second when Carl Crawford singled to right. Nixon unleashed a one-hopper, just up the third-base line. Jason Varitek gloved it, swung, and swept at Hall.
Hall's view: ''He didn't tag me. I went around him with my foot."
Varitek's take: ''I didn't tag him flush. I'm totally uncertain."
Piniella, who made several trips out of the dugout to engage umpires last night, wasn't pleased. And in the bottom of the inning, he'd have even less reason to be.
Kevin Millar -- the man responsible for the bleach blond hair on not only his head but Schilling's -- was scheduled to lead off. Instead, Damon walked to the on-deck circle. Damon, recall, was hit by a pitch on the left hand in the sixth inning Monday night, and his manager said that night, ''I don't doubt it's going to be a few games [he's out]."
But there was Damon, to a rousing ovation. When did Terry Francona decide Damon was physically able to play?
