It's a good thing Tim Naehring isn't scared of crucial situations. He's been in plenty this week.
It happened for the third straight game Friday night and he came through with four RBIs on three singles as the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5."It always amazes me how people don't want to be in that situation," said Boston's third baseman, who raised his average from .325 to .332. "You're expected to fail and if you're expected to fail the pressure's off. So if you do well it's magnified."
He couldn't have had a much bigger hit than his two-run homer in the 15th inning Wednesday night that gave Boston a 6-4 win over Cleveland, which would have swept the 12-game season series with a victory.
But on Thursday night, he left three runners in scoring position in a 9-6 loss to Detroit in which his long fly with two runners on was the final out.
"I felt very good at the plate and I had absolutely nothing to show for it," he said of his 0-for-5 performance. "I was very frustrated."
He felt much better Friday night after adding an outstanding ninth-inning defensive play to his strong game at bat.
With a runner at first and no outs, he dove and backhanded Chad Curtis' grounder down the line and threw him out.
Detroit's Alan Trammell called it "the most spectacular play I've seen all season." Boston manager Kevin Kennedy said, "without that play by Naehring, it looked like (the Tigers) were getting back into the game."
Lee Tinsley also had three RBIs as Boston won only its third game in its last 10. Detroit, which has won just 23 games all season, had won five of its previous six.
Naehring's first single tied the game at 1 in the third inning. He added a two-run single in a four-run fourth when Boston went ahead 5-1 against Brian Williams (1-5), and singled home another run in the eighth.
"Naehring is a very patient hitter and he does something that good major-league players do and that's hit your mistakes," Williams said.
White Sox 4, Indians 2
At Chicago, rookie Bill Simas retired Albert Belle, Jim Thome and Eddie Murray in pitching out of a bases-loaded, no-out, seventh-inning jam as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians for the second straight night.
Simas, 24, used his overpowering fastball to strike out four batters in two perfect innings. Roberto Hernandez then pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Orioles 7, Yankees 4
At New York, Rafael Palmeiro hit his second two-run homer, capping a three-run ninth inning that gave the Baltimore Orioles a victory over the New York Yankees.
Cal Ripken singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth and Palmeiro followed with his 20th home run off Mariano Rivera (3-1).
Palmeiro's homer was the first off Rivera in 27 appearances this season.
Brewers 5, Blue Jays 1
At Toronto, Jeff D'Amico, activated from Double-A ball earlier in the day, won his major-league debut.
D'Amico, who at 20 is the youngest active player in the majors, pitched 52/3 shutout innings. Recalled from El Paso of the Texas League, D'Amico walked the first two batters before settling down to retire 14 of the next 16.
Greg Vaughn tied a Milwaukee club record by hitting his 12th home run in June.
Royals 6, Twins 2
At Kansas City, Mo., Kevin Appier, the subject of several trade rumors, pitched a five-hitter and retired the final 15 batters.
Slumping Keith Lockhart doubled twice and drove in three runs for the Royals.
Mariners 19, Rangers 8
At Seattle, the Seattle Mariners scored seven times in the first inning off Texas ace Roger Pavlik and went on to match a club record for runs in a win over the Rangers.
Jay Buhner's three-run double ignited the Mariners' first inning as Seattle equalled its team record for runs scored set against the Rangers on May 20, 1994.
Athletics 6, Angels 3
At Anaheim, Damon Mashore's first major-league homer triggered a five-run sixth inning, and Ernie Young and Jason Giambi also homered for Oakland.
The Athletics, who hit a club record eight homers and matched a major-league record by having seven different players homer on Thursday night, have hit 15 home runs in their last three games. Oakland leads the majors with 123 homers.