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Youkilis' key double helps Red Sox rally past Orioles

Aug 2, 2007 - 4:48 AM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles have made life miserable for everyone in their path lately. Thanks to Kevin Youkilis, the Boston Red Sox found a way to get around the roadblock.

Youkilis erased a deficit with a two-run double during a four-run seventh inning as the Red Sox rallied past the Orioles, 5-4, at Fenway Park on Wednesday.

Kevin Millar had two hits against his former team and Nick Markakis homered to help the Orioles build a 3-1 lead.

Baltimore starter Steve Trachsel walked five but left with a two-run advantage before being denied his first win since June 8 when the bullpen trio of Paul Shuey, John Parrish (2-2) and Chad Bradford surrendered the lead in the seventh.

"We needed Trachsel to get deep into the game and he did," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "If he would have stayed away from some of the walks, he might have been able to go a little bit further."

For the second time in as many nights, the Orioles jumped on top via a first-inning solo homer. Markakis drilled a 1-1 fastball from spot starter Julian Tavarez into the seats above the "Green Monster" in left field.

The Orioles increased their lead to 3-0 in the second thanks to some timely hitting and some shoddy defense by Manny Ramirez.

Chris Gomez doubled home Jay Gibbons before Roberts lined a two-base hit over the head of Ramirez. Boston's left fielder initially broke in and was unable to recover in time.

Tavarez returned to the starting rotation for one game, taking the place of lefthander Kason Gabbard, who was dealt to Texas on Tuesday as part of the trade that landed reliever Eric Gagne. The righthander allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings, walking one without a strikeout.

"Julian giving us five (innings) under the circumstances was pretty phenomenal," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That's a lot to ask after not starting for two weeks."

Javier Lopez (2-1), Boston's third pitcher of the night, retired the only batter he faced in the seventh to notch the victory.

The Red Sox's offense continued to be sporadic, generating just one unearned run off Trachsel. The righthander left after six innings, allowing five hits while walking five and striking out two.

"The stadium was so quiet, and we weren't doing much to make it loud," Francona acknowledged. "And then we had a really good inning. We strung together a lot of good at-bats, where if we don't, somebody rolls over (into a double play) or we're swimming upstream."

Shuey walked Julio Lugo and allowed a single by Dustin Pedroia to open the seventh before Parrish yielded an RBI double off the wall in left by David Ortiz, which cut the deficit to 3-2.

"David (had) a great swing and (Youk), too," Francona said. "They were able to match up (with their relievers) and our guys really had good at-bats."

"The biggest thing that bothers me is putting Parrish in that position where he's got to face Big Papi (Ortiz) with nobody out," Shuey said. "If I got my job done, it's two outs and Big Papi up."

Ramirez was walked intentionally to load the bases for Youkilis.

Trembley brought in his third reliever of the inning, Bradford, to face Youkilis. The Red Sox first baseman fouled off four pitches before doubling to right-center, giving Boston the lead for good, 4-3.

"He just gave me a fastball and I stayed through it," Youkilis said. "I was just trying to hit it up the middle and I was very fortunate the ball stayed to where it just got away from (center fielder) Corey Patterson. I thought he was going to make a great play on it but it got away from him and it was great just to get that hit."

Two batters later, Jason Varitek singled off the pitcher's mound and into center, plating Ramirez to cap the rally.

"In this ballpark, you can't walk people," Trembley said. "We walked the leadoff guy. That set the table for them. Then we had a match-up situation, lefty against lefty. We didn't make a real good pitch in that situation and the guy (Ortiz) did what he's supposed to do with it. He's a good hitter."

Miguel Tejada's line-drive homer to left off Hideki Okajima in the eighth drew Baltimore within 5-4. However, Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon worked a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 24th save in 26 opportunities.

Baltimore suffered just its second loss in its last nine games.

Before the game, 10-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett received a huge ovation from the crowd at Fenway Park when he came out of Boston's dugout wearing a Red Sox jersey. Acquired by the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Garnett threw out the honorary first pitch to Red Sox All-Star Ortiz.