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Red Sox Escape White Sox 7-4

Posted on: Friday, 12 September 2003, 06:00 CDT

Johnny Damon drew three of Boston's 12 walks, including two with the bases loaded, and the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 7-4 Friday night despite getting just five hits.

Jeff Suppan (2-2) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks, striking out two in six innings. Byung-Hyun Kim pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

Dan Wright (1-6) lasted just one-plus inning for Chicago, giving up four runs - three earned - on two hits and five walks.

Boston returned from a 7-2 road trip with a 1 1/2-game lead in the AL wild-card race over the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox, who trail the AL East-leading Yankees by four games, have 15 games left in the season. After the three-game series against Chicago, they do not play another team with a winning record.

The White Sox, who remained tied with Minnesota in the AL Central, face a much tougher road. They have 15 games left - all against winning teams.

All Boston had to do in this one was be patient.

The Red Sox drew three walks while scoring four runs in the second. In the fifth, Boston drew five walks - including four in a row - to score two runs without even getting a base hit.

Carl Everett was 2-for-4 with a homer and a double for the White Sox, and Jose Valentin also homered.

Everett doubled and scored on Joe Crede's double to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the second. But the Red Sox made it 4-1 when five consecutive batters reached base - three of them on walks - to chase Wright.

Chicago cut the deficit to one run when Everett and Valentin each hit solo homers in the fourth. But Boston responded again, and again did it by taking advantage of wild Chicago pitching.

Billy Koch walked four batters in the inning - scoring one run - and Kelly Wunsch came in and walked in another before getting Todd Walker to fly out to right to end the inning.

Walker, who went 2-for-5, was the only Boston batter who didn't walk.

Notes:@ Manny Ramirez was called for interference in the first inning when, after striking out, he walked across the plate and got in the way of Sandy Alomar's throw to second. ... Frank Thomas has homered in 10 of his last 20 games. ... The Red Sox have no more scheduled off days. ... Nomar Garciaparra was 7-for-40 on the last road trip, dropping his average on the road to .244. His average at Fenway Park was .387 coming into Friday's game. ... The Red Sox purchased the contract of OF Adrian Brown from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday and designated RHP Steve Woodard for assignment. ... Paul Konerko has homered in all 14 AL ballparks except for Fenway Park.

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