1.   Bernie Williams tripled to right and provided Hitchcock with a five-run cushion.

2.   Boston gave Lowe a two-run cushion in the ninth against all-too-familiar foe Toronto Tuesdaynight at Fenway Park.

3.   A six-run cushion sometimes can be overcome.

4.   He took the mound in the bottom of the first with a three-run cushion after the Mets jumped on San Francisco starter Mark Gardner.

5.   In the next five, he shut down the pesky Royals and left with a nine-run cushion.

6.   The five-run cushion now was one run.

7.   With a five-run cushion, he gave way to Rick Aguilera, who surrendered back-to-back homers to Albert Belle and Eddie Murray in the ninth.

8.   With a six-run cushion, Elarton had room for error.

9.   Eric Davis followed with a pinch-hit single for a two-run cushion.

10.   Jones added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to give a two-run cushion to John Rocker, who pitched the ninth for his first save.