A curt ending for Sox

Friday, April 23, 2004

By From news service reports, Associated Press

TORONTO — Chris Gomez ended Toronto's home drought and Curt Schilling's night with one swing Thursday. Gomez hit a tiebreaking grand slam off Schilling in the eighth inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays their first home victory of the season, 7-3 against the Boston Red Sox.

Gomez drove in five runs to help the Blue Jays snap a five-game losing streak and improve to 1-8 at home.

"It's just nice to win a game. I don't care where it is, if it's China or any place," Toronto Manager Carlos Tosca said.

At 4-11, the Blue Jays are off to their worst start.

Gomez hit his first career slam after Schilling (2-1), who threw 123 pitches, allowed singles to Carlos Delgado and Eric Hinske and walked Orlando Hudson.

The homer gave Toronto its first lead at home since Delgado hit a three-run homer in the first inning April 7.

"It was exciting. I'm not going to lie," Gomez said. "I'm a guy that doesn't get excited about too many things. I try to stay on an even keel but that was exciting. To help a team win is the best thing in baseball."

Schilling lost for the first time in four starts with his new team, allowing seven runs on 13 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He gave up a career-high 14 hits on Sept. 20, 2002, against Colorado.

"I didn't get the job done. I felt good, I felt strong, I just didn't do my job," Schilling said.

Terry Adams (2-0) pitched two innings for the victory.

Manny Ramirez went 3 for 3 with two walks for the Red Sox, who visit New York for a three-game set this weekend.

Howie Clark of Toronto tied a career high with four hits.

David Ortiz of Boston hit a two-run homer off Miguel Batista in the first, and Jason Varitek's RBI single in the third gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Clark hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the first.

Schilling struck out the first two batters in the seventh before Hudson tripled. Gomez and Frank Catalanotto later hit RBI singles to make it 3-3.

RED SOX NOTES: Hinske ended a career worst 0-for-19 slump with a single in the fourth. . . . Schilling and Batista are former teammates with Arizona. . . . Red Sox Manager Terry Francona gave shortstop Pokey Reese a day off. Cesar Crespo started instead.

THE YANKEES will wait until tonight before officially deciding on their starting pitcher for the third game of this weekend's series against the Red Sox.

But as long as Javier Vazquez doesn't beg out of the assignment, the Yankees appear poised to let Vazquez face Pedro Martinez on three days' rest Sunday.

"We're still discussing it," Manager Joe Torre said. "The only reason we really would consider doing something like this is the Monday off day, and it doesn't affect everybody."

Vazquez defeated the White Sox on Wednesday night, 3-1, throwing 113 pitches in eight innings. In his seven-year career, he has made just one start on three days' rest.

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