Victory bash turns deadly

A 21-year-old college student died Thursday of a head injury after a clash between police and a crowd of Boston Red Sox fans celebrating their team’s victory over the New York Yankees in the streets outside Fenway Park.

Victoria Snelgrove, a journalism major at Emerson College, was shot in the eye by a projectile fired by an officer on crowd-control duty. The nature of the projectile was not immediately identified, but the weapons are meant to be non-lethal.

During a news conference carried live on local television stations, Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole expressed the department’s sympathies to Snelgrove’s family and said the agency “accepts full responsibility for the death of Victoria Snelgrove.”

“The Boston Police Department is devastated by this tragedy. This terrible event should never have happened,” O’Toole said.

Snelgrove was among 16 people hurt in Boston’s Kenmore Square neighborhood early Thursday morning, after thousands of fans took to the streets to celebrate the Red Sox winning the American League pennant. She died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital later in the day.

“It appears from evidence we have reviewed thus far that Tori was killed when she was hit in the eye by a projectile fired as officers tried to control mobs outside the ballpark,” O’Toole said. “Designated officers were equipped with less-lethal systems that use projectiles designed to break upon impact, dousing the target with (pepper-like) spray.”

O’Toole and Mayor Thomas Menino pledged to fully investigate the incident.

Red Sox set Series rotation

A.L. Championship Series Most Valuable Player David Ortiz of Boston will play first base when the World Series shifts to the National League city, where a designated hitter won’t be used.

“We don’t want that bat out of the lineup,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who could move first baseman Kevin Millar to right field.

With two days between the end of the ALCS and the World Series, Francona’s overworked pitchers have time to rest. They played 12 innings in Game 4, 14 in Game 5 and then two nine-inning games, without a day off. So a rested Tim Wakefield, who pitched three innings and was the winner Monday night in Game 5, will be ready to start the opener.

Curt Schilling will pitch Game 2 at Fenway on Sunday night to spare him from having to bat with an injured right ankle in the N.L. city. Then it will be Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe in Games 3 and 4. Bronson Arroyo, who started Game 3 against the Yankees, impressed Francona with his ability to relieve on consecutive days in Games 5 and 6 and will be the long man in the bullpen which will be filled with fresh arms for a change.

Cashman will return to Yankees

Brian Cashman’s job is safe — at least for now. The rest of the New York Yankees have plenty to worry about this winter.

Soon after the Yankees completed a historic collapse against Boston in the A.L. playoffs, volatile owner George Steinbrenner told Cashman, the team’s general manager, that he will not be fired before next season.

Fox gets high ALCS rating

The Red Sox capped off an improbable comeback in Game 7 of the ALCS Wednesday night — and so did the TV ratings.

Boston’s 10-3 win was the highest-rated league championship series game since 1991, drawing a 19.4 national rating for Fox Sports. That was up 13 percent from last year’s Game 7 between the same teams, which the Yankees won on Aaron Boone’s homer in the 11th inning.

Clearing the bases

Former All-Star shortstop Chris Speier was hired by the Chicago Cubs as their third-base coach. Speier replaces Wendell Kim, who was often criticized for being too aggressive in sending runners home. … The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to offer a multiyear contract extension to manager Jim Tracy, general manager Paul DePodesta said.