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Ramirez sparks Red Sox comeback with first home run of year

Apr 19, 2007 - 9:37 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Manny Ramirez picked the right time to hit his first home run of the season. Manager John Gibbons picked the wrong time to replace Roy Halladay.

Ramirez hit a game-tying two-run homer off Shaun Marcum in the eighth inning and Alex Cora tripled home the go-ahead run in the ninth as the Boston Red Sox posted a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber game of their three-game series.

The loss was especially painful for the Blue Jays, who had a 3-1 lead with their ace on the mound.

But after Coco Crisp reached on a bunt single and Kevin Youkilis was retired on a popout to short to start the eighth inning, Gibbons decided to lift Halladay, who had pitched a 10-inning complete game last Friday against Detroit.

Lefthander Scott Downs was brought in to face David Ortiz and struck out the lefthanded slugger. Gibbons then went for the percentages again, bringing in Marcum (1-1) to pitch to righthanded power hitter Ramirez, who had yet to homer this season after hitting 35 in 2006.

The strategy backfired when Ramirez hit a 2-0 fastball over the center field fence to tie the game at 3-3.

"To be honest, I thought he (Halladay) was done," Gibbons said. "I thought he was at the point, we had a two-run lead, Ortiz at the plate. We got Ortiz, just didn't get Ramirez."

Halladay agreed with Gibbons' decision.

"I really felt like it was the right move," Halladay said. "(Scott) Downs I felt was always pretty good against Ortiz and obviously you want to be out there but you want to do what's best for the team and I really felt like having Downs face him (Ortiz) was a smart move."

Marcum (0-1) remained in the game to start the ninth and walked former Blue Jay Eric Hinske. After Dustin Pedroia bunted into a forceout, Gibbons went to his bullpen again and brought in Jason Frasor.

"My job is to come in and throw strikes there and I didn't get the job done," Marcum said. "It cost this team a big win, we needed that game. I just didn't get the job done."

Frasor is being counted on to serve as the team's closer with B.J. Ryan on the disabled list. But Cora greeted Frasor with an RBI triple to left-center, giving Boston a 4-3 lead. Crisp followed with a sacrifice fly to center.

"You gotta focus," said Cora who had his first multi-hit game of the season. "I just got a good pitch to hit and put the right part of the bat on it."

Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a hitless ninth inning for his fourth save in as many chances.

Mike Timlin (1-0) pitched out of trouble in the eighth inning to earn the win. Vernon Wells led off the inning with a double over the head of center fielder Crisp and moved to third on a groundout by Frank Thomas.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona called for an intentional walk of lefthanded slugger Lyle Overbay. The strategy worked as Aaron Hill hit a comebacker for an inning-ending double play.

Thomas and Alex Rios hit solo homers for the Blue Jays.

Halladay allowed one run and five hits in the first seven innings. He was charged with another run in the eighth when Marcum yielded the two-run homer to Ramirez.

It figured that Ramirez's first home run of the season would come against the Blue Jays. He has 52 in his career vs. Toronto - the most against any opponent.

"Yeah, great timing by Manny," Francona said. "That home run was huge."

Ramirez walked and J.D. Drew singled to start the second inning. After a fielder's choice grounder by Jason Varitek, Ramirez scored on Hinske's sacrifice fly to left.

Boston's Julian Tavarez made his first start since April 7 and yielded three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"The story was Manny," Tavarez said. "I've been pulling for Manny. He hit the ball the right time, the right place. That was the big difference in the game."

Thomas cleared the center field wall in the second inning for his second home run of the season and 489th of his career.

Rios, who doubled in the third inning to snap an 0-for-15 slump, homered in the sixth to give Toronto the lead. Rios has seven hits in nine career at-bats against Tavarez.

Adam Lind then singled, advanced on a wild pitch by Tavarez and scored on a double to left by Wells. Crisp followed with a sacrifice fly to center.