June 30, 2007
...
Four runs were already in. Mike Lowell was at the plate, awaiting the
pitch from an ineffective Robinson Tejeda, who had just loaded the
bases with two outs in the second inning by walking David Ortiz,
hitting Manny Ramirez, and walking J.D. Drew. With Josh Beckett on
the mound, who in the crowd didn't expect a big hit in what looked to
be a runaway win? But Lowell sent a fly ball to left field, where
Frank Catalanotto caught it in front of the warning track. And,
despite that four-run lead after two, Beckett found himself finished
after five innings, done in by a mess of a fourth inning that put the
Texas Rangers in position for a 5-4 win.
So while the
major league debut of Jacoby Ellsbury was a nice diversion for the 36,747 in
attendance, the true attraction was Beckett, supposedly just polishing his
All-Star resume against the dregs of the AL West. And with Texas starter Tejeda
finishing his evening after four innings, having given up four runs on five hits
and six walks (one intentional), it would have seemed that Beckett was in for an
easy night. Not quite.
Having been
granted a four-run lead, Beckett allowed four in the fourth, aided by a grounder
that glanced off of second baseman Dustin Pedroia that was ruled a hit by
Catalanotto. After Sammy Sosa's single off the Wall, Catalanotto hit his gift
single into short right field. Marlon Byrd followed with an RBI single, then
Brad Wilkerson drilled a two-run double off the center field wall, which was
misplayed on the carom by Ellsbury. After a two-out infield single by Ramon
Vazquez, Kenny Lofton provided the final run of the inning with a single to
right.
Sosa lofted
Beckett's 2-and-1 offering in the fifth just over the Wall, giving the Rangers
the lead and Sosa the 602d home run of his career, Beckett becoming the 365th
pitcher to allow a homer to him. When Catalanotto followed with a double,
Beckett had matched his season high for hits with 10, which also came in his
other loss this season, June 14 against Colorado. But Sosa's home run would only
be an afterthought if the Sox could cash in in the eighth. And Kevin Youkilis,
who hit a two-run home run in the second inning - had a chance with a runner in
scoring position.
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SAMMY SOSA |
But clearly
confusing and irking his manager, pinch runner Julio Lugo continued his spate of
bad luck by running the Red Sox out of the inning. With two outs, Lugo took off
trying to steal third base, and he was easily thrown out by Rangers catcher
Gerald Laird. It didn't help that the Red Sox went 3 for 12 with runners in
scoring position and left nine men on base against a team with a road ERA of
5.64.
There was
one moment that was hardly diminished by the outcome - Ellsbury's first career
hit in the third inning. Youkilis had the ball in his hand and, with the crowd
giving a rousing standing ovation, he faked a throw to the masses. But he tossed
it softly toward the Red Sox dugout. The ball that Ellsbury grounded to Rangers
shortstop Michael Young was safe with his new teammates and Ellsbury was safe at
first after using his much-discussed speed to beat Young's throw.
The Red Sox'
sweep in Seattle didn't just amount to three losses. It also cost them two
injured players. Joel Pineiro was placed on the disabled list with a right ankle
sprain, with Pawtucket center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury replacing him on the
roster. Coco Crisp was left on the active roster as he recovers from a sprained
left thumb, which was confirmed by X-rays yesterday.
Pineiro
injured his ankle last Monday, when he stepped on Eric Hinske's heel during
pregame stretching. The reliever appeared frustrated with the decision after
having pitched Wednesday, when he gave up a walk and a game-winning double in
the 11th inning.
Matt Clement
threw 20 to 25 pitches off a mound yesterday at about 70 percent effort. Brendan
Donnelly, who was eligible to come off the disabled list when the team was in
Seattle, took a step back in his return from a right forearm strain. He threw
from 60, 90, and 120 feet, though he did not throw from a mound yesterday.
J.D. Drew
extended his hitting streak to eight games, during which he is batting .458 (11
for 24). His average is up to .259. Alex Cora hit his fifth triple of the
season tonight, tying him for fourth in the American League. His career high
is six, with the Dodgers in 2000.
