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Sele gets job done for Red Sox
Relievers help put out fires late as Boston clips Yanks 4-3
The Boston Globe • Wednesday, June 30
Aaron Sele thought his baseball career may have been over when Anaheim cut him loose in early April.
He worked out dutifully at his home for the past few months hoping another team would come calling. On Monday morning, the Boston Red Sox became that team. And by Tuesday night, Sele was pitching the Sox to victory in front of a hostile crowd at Yankee Stadium.
"This is really a dream come true for me," said the right hander, who just celebrated his 34th birthday a few days ago.
Sele gave up just one earned run through five innings as Boston topped their most heated rivals 4-3. Trot Nixon was the official game MVP, but Red Sox players and coaches were treating one of their new pitchers like the big star afterward.
"We just wanted someone to hold down the fort and keep us in ballgames until Pedro comes back," said Boston manager Terry Francona of his free agent pick-up. "Aaron looks like he’s going to be able to do just that. He gave up some hits and a few walks but he mostly just made them put the ball in play and didn’t give up anything big."
Another new Boston pickup, reliever Armando Benitez, also had a big night. The former Florida hurler relieved Sele after Alex Rodriguez doubled to lead off the sixth inning. He fanned Gary Sheffield, got Matsui to hit into a ground out and then struck out Jorge Posada to end the threat.
Alan Embree also put out a New York fire in the seventh, getting Jason Giambi to hit into a harmless groundout with two outs and two on. Brendan Donnelly and Keith Foulke both gave up runs late, but Foulke got Sheffield to hit into the final out with runners on first and third and the score 4-3.
Nixon, Bill Mueller and Mike Bordick had RBIs for Boston as they improved to 5-3 against the Yanks this season.
Mike Mussina took the loss for New York, though he pitched a mostly masterful game, getting out of several jams with strikeouts. The Yanks outhit the Sox 11-8.
Boston pitcher Curt Schilling, who once compared the Yankees' "mystique and aura" to a couple of night club dancers will take the hill tonight against Javier Vazqez. Schilling is looking for his eighth straight win...
New BoSox hurler Aaron Sele earned a win at Yankee Stadium last night.
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