Nixon easing back into the mix

By KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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BOSTON — When right fielder Trot Nixon was activated from the disabled list on Sept. 7, the Red Sox did not seem to have high expectations. Sunday, Nixon not only played his third straight game, he went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs.

"He's kind of fitting into what we had hoped," Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said.

Nixon missed the start of the season with back and quadriceps problems. He came back June 16, only to go return to the DL July 25 with a severely strained left quadriceps.

"When we got him back in June, he looked kind of beat up," Francona said. "And when we got him back again, we didn't know."

The Red Sox have protected Nixon, limiting his consecutive starts and taking him out of games early. But they cannot keep him out for long.

Since coming back this month, Nixon has played 15 games, batting .459 (17 for 37) with two home runs, five doubles and seven RBI.

Nixon will sit today against Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir.

YANKEE SERIES: Boston's win Sunday gave the Red Sox an 11-8 edge over New York in their season series.

"Obviously, you like to win more than you lose," Francona said. "But as far as statements being made, I'm not too sure I believe in that stuff."

The series edge could mean something if the Red Sox and Yankees finish the season tied. Boston would be declared the division champion because of their head-to-head advantage. While a one-game playoff is usually used to break a division tie, such a playoff is scrapped if both teams are headed to the playoffs.

MAGIC NUMBER: Even before Anaheim beat Oakland Sunday night, the Red Sox's magic number for making the playoffs was reduced to one, thanks to their victory and the Texas loss to Seattle. Either a Boston win or a Rangers loss will put the Red Sox in the playoffs.

The Angels cannot knock Boston out. If Anaheim wins all its remaining games, which include three against Oakland and four against Texas, then the A's and Rangers would be eliminated.

NOTES: Before the bottom of the eighth inning, the retiring Ellis Burks stepped out of the dugout and received a prolonged standing ovation. He could not play because of his sore knee. . . . For the first time in Red Sox history, they sold out every game of the regular season, drawing a record 2,837,304. . . . Curt Schilling said the last time he threw 12 straight balls was in a game against the Dodgers, with Kevin Brown pitching. . . . Boston first baseman Doug Mienkiewicz said he was upset with Kenny Lofton because "there are 700 players in the big leagues, and he is the only guy who continually comes down the line and bumps me." . . . Yankees infielder Andy Phillips, who hit his first major-league home run in the eighth, began the season with the Trenton Thunder and has played at Hadlock Field. . . . The Red Sox postponed their flight to Tampa until this morning because of Hurricane Jeanne. The clubhouse televisions, normally tuned to ESPN, featured The Weather Channel all morning.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

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