Nilsson Is Quite Happy to Be Lucky

The way Jamie Moyer was pitching, Dave Nilsson felt just plain lucky getting his bat on the ball. Getting the game-winning hit was an added bonus.

“He really jammed me bad, and the ball just found a hole,” Nilsson said after driving in the winning run Thursday night as the surging Brewers defeated Seattle, 2-1, at Milwaukee. “It had to take something like that to bust him.”

Nilsson’s broken-bat, bloop hit to right field brought home Fernando Vina from third to give the Brewers their season-high eighth straight victory.

“He was throwing so well,” Nilsson said of Moyer, who threw 81 of his 118 pitches for strikes in a complete-game loss. “I don’t think he would second-guess that pitch.”

Vina led off the Brewers’ ninth with a single off Moyer, who was trying for his third straight win. After Mark Loretta sacrificed Vina to second, Jeff Cirillo flied to center, sending Vina to third.

Nilsson flied out the first three times he faced Moyer (11-4), but this time, he punched a 1-and-1 pitch into right for the game-winner.

Seattle had a great chance to score in the eighth, but a couple of sharp defensive plays by Nilsson and Jack Voigt stopped them.

With the score tied, 1-1, Rob Ducey singled and was sacrificed to second. Alex Rodriguez lofted a foul ball that Nilsson raced after from his position at first. He caught the ball running down the right field line with his back to plate.

Ducey broke for third and slid as third baseman Cirillo waited for Nilsson’s throw. But the ball skipped past Cirillo’s glove and Ducey raced for home.

Left fielder Voigt, backing up the play, fired a strike to catcher Mike Matheny, who tagged out Ducey in a close play at home.

Kansas City 3, Boston 2--Slump-ridden Chili Davis singled home David Howard with one out in the 10th for the victory at Kansas City, Mo.

The Red Sox had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th when Nomar Garciaparra doubled with two outs and came around on two wild pitches by Hector Carrasco.

Boston’s Heathcliff Slocumb, who was traded to the Seattle Mariners hours after the game, left the Red Sox on a sour note. He started the bottom of the 10th and loaded the bases with a hit batter, a single and a walk.

Mike Sweeney scored the tying run on Slocumb’s wild pitch and then Slocumb intentionally walked Jay Bell. Davis, in a 3 for 33 slump, then punched a single barely in front of center fielder Darren Bragg, who was playing shallow.

It was the fifth blown save for Slocumb.

Bell hit a 0-and-1 pitch for his career-best 17th homer in the first. It was his 100th home run.

Detroit 4, Toronto 2--Justin Thompson pitched one of his strongest games of the season and Brian Hunter had an RBI triple as the Tigers won at home, extending the Blue Jays’ losing streak to six games.

Thompson (9-8) took a no-hitter into the fifth. He allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking one.

Doug Brocail pitched the eighth and Doug Jones the ninth for his 16th save in the last 17 chances and 19th overall.

Baltimore 4, Oakland 0--Bases-loaded walks to Chris Hoiles and Aaron Ledesma in the 11th started the Orioles toward the victory at Oakland.

With one out in the 11th, Cal Ripken Jr. reached on an error by Dane Johnson (3-1). B.J. Surhoff was intentionally walked, Jeffrey Hammonds was hit by a pitch and Hoiles walked on a 3-and-1 pitch to break the scoreless tie.

Ledesma walked on a 3-and-2 pitch to force in the second run, and Brady Anderson followed with a two-run single off Tim Kubinski.

Jimmy Key allowed three singles and a double while pitching seven scoreless innings for the Orioles. He walked three and struck out four while lowering his ERA to 2.48--third best in the AL.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Jay Bell Kansas City 100th home run of career Win Todd Greene Angels 4 for 5, homer, 6 RBIs Loss

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result J. Thompson Detroit 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs Win Jamie Moyer Seattle 8 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 7 strikeouts Loss Kevin Appier Kansas City 9 innings, 1 runs, 6 strikeouts Win Tom Gordon Boston 8 innings, 4 hits, 1 run Loss

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