Spidey, Help! Sox Have Web Problem

Blame it on The Curse.

The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium after an error by David Ortiz led to two New York runs.

Apparently, the webbing in the first baseman’s glove wasn’t strong enough to hold up against a Tony Clark grounder. When Ortiz tried to field the ball, it passed right through his glove.

“These kind of things seem to happen to us a lot, especially when we are playing the Yankees,” Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon said. “Whether it’s The Curse or ghosts flying around this stadium, I don’t know.”

It wasn’t exactly a Bill Buckner situation, but that didn’t stop the endless replays of his 1986 World Series gaffe.

Ortiz wasn’t even supposed to be playing first base. He was moved there from designated hitter because Trot Nixon had a tight quadriceps.

His summary of the key play: “Bad luck, bro.”

Yep. Years of it.

Trivia time: Name the only athlete to hit the Wrigley Field scoreboard with a ball.

Cramped quarters: Shaquille and Shaunie O’Neal have put their $7.5-million home in Beverly Hills up for sale. In an interview with television show “Extra,” Shaunie said they had outgrown the 18-bedroom home.

Denied: Greg Cote of the Miami Herald with a court update: “There was a new motion by the defense Monday in the Kobe Bryant trial, but the motion was blocked by Ben Wallace.”

Run Tim, Run: Sprinter Tim Montgomery reportedly told a grand jury that a BALCO official said he provided steroids for Barry Bonds.

“In short,” wrote Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press, “Montgomery ratted out a very large man who makes millions of dollars for his unparalleled ability to swing a baseball bat.

“Question: Is Montgomery still the world’s fastest man?

“Answer: Dude, he better be.”

On the run: A parade in Fullerton on Tuesday honoring Cal State Fullerton’s victory in the College World Series apparently didn’t serve as the finish line for the team. Titan Baseball is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the sixth race tonight at Hollywood Park.

Lose-lose situation: ESPN.com’s D.J. Gallo on the Tour de France: “If [Lance] Armstrong wins, we can expect his girlfriend, Sheryl Crow, to release a new album with songs such as ‘Every Day is a Winding Road With Multiple Switchbacks at Nearly 35-Degree Inclines’ and ‘All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun and Go On a Six-Hour, 130-Mile Training Ride.’

“If he loses? Crow’s first blues album. But, either way, we all lose because there will be a new Sheryl Crow album.”

Trivia answer: In 1951, golf great Sam Snead hit the scoreboard -- with a golf ball as part of a stunt before the Cubs’ home opener.

And finally: Lauren Jackson of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm recently posed nude for an Australian magazine, prompting this from Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Storm had no official stance, other than to mention that plenty of good seats are available.”