BALTIMORE - In the Red Sox clubhouse late yesterday afternoon, the calisthenics of sweeping the Orioles over with, players packed their bags quickly. Even in their haste to make a flight to Kansas City, they noticed the images flashing on the monitor above David Ortiz’s locker.
The television showed the Mariners pummeling the Yankees, a result that would slash the Red Sox’ deficit in the American League East to five games.
“We haven’t really thought about the Yankees much,’’ Jason Bay said.
But what about now, with the wild card firm in their grasp and 14 games left? Could the Red Sox actually catch the Yankees? “Why not?’’ Ortiz said.
As Daisuke Matsuzaka submitted another strong start in his second game back from his three-month sabbatical, the Red Sox solidified their stranglehold on the wild card with a 9-3 dismissal of the Orioles before 27,546 at Camden Yards. The Rangers lost, increasing the Sox’ lead to eight games and cutting their magic number to seven.
The Red Sox having won 10 of their last 11 games, are 27-11 since Aug. 10, the best in the majors. Their streak and the Rangers’ slump has virtually sewn up the wild card, which may enable the Red Sox to shift their crosshairs to the Yankees - who would have clinched a playoff spot with a win.
“I don’t see Joba pumping his fist now,’’ another player shouted after Joba Chamberlain allowed a home run to Ken Griffey Jr.
The Sox placed their own game in the win column yesterday before the beer vendors sold out their first trays. They used three singles and a pair of walks to score three runs in the first, the key hit a bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single to left by Mike Lowell. The Sox scored in the first four innings - Jacoby Ellsbury drilled a two-run double to left-center in the third - and gave Matsuzaka a 7-0 lead.
Matsuzaka did not duplicate his stunning, dominant performance in his return, but in allowing three runs over 5 1/3 steady innings, he proved his durability. He threw 110 pitches, his highest total this season.
Matsuzaka allowed eight hits and walked one while striking out five. He pounded the zone, throwing 73 of his pitches for strikes. In his last start, Matsuzaka allowed three hits over six scoreless innings, a shocking performance at Fenway Park. His performance yesterday was not as arresting, but Matsuzaka found progress in it.
“Today was not as good as my last start,’’ Matsuzaka said through interpreter Masa Hoshino. “But I also feel that, gradually, my stuff is getting better. I think that the other good sign today was that I was able to throw over 100 pitches.’’