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In contrast to another one of Don Orsillo’s staid ties (black grid punctuated with light gray rectangles), Jim Rice covered himself in a garish but ultimately lucky Snuggie (marketed as the Comfy Throw and available for $24.99 at the official online shop). Spurred on by the tremendous spirit embodied in Rice’s blanket, “Dirty Water” echoed through Fenway Park for just the third time this season. Jed Lowrie leading off and going 3-for-5 with his first home run of 2011 might have something to do with it. Josh Beckett’s 7 commanding innings with 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, and 9 whiffs figured into the mix. Shutdown appearances by Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon in support of their starter didn’t hurt, and neither did solid defensive play by Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, and Mike Cameron. Cameron ended the game by gloving a fly ball off the bat of Travis Snider while sliding perilously close to the left field stands. A misplay by Cameron would have allowed Aaron Hill, who advanced twice on defensive indifference, to score and potentially spark a rally. Cameron has adjusted well to his role as a platoon player and will hopefully mentor Carl Crawford as the...
Game 99: July 28, 2009 ∙ 11 innings Athletics9W: Craig Breslow (4-4)S: Andrew Bailey (12)42-57, 1 game winning streak Red Sox8H: Ramon Ramirez (9)H: Daniel Bard (4)BS: Jonathan Papelbon (3)L: Manny Delcarmen (2-2)58-41, 1 game losing streak Highlights: During batting practice, Fenway Park organist Josh Kantor played “My Funny Valentine” and “Eight Days a Week.” I failed to note every retired number-related song performed as I got caught up soaking up the pre-game atmosphere. Number 14 jerseys, t-shirts, and caps abounded. Every few seconds fans would catch each others’ eyes and smile because we all knew that we were sharing history. I arrived at Fenway about three hours before the gates opened to take advantage of my Red Sox Nation benefit of hanging out in the Monster seats and failing to catch a home run ball. A crimson curtain hung over Jim Rice’s 14 on the right field roof, but like a kid cheating at hide-and-seek I caught a glimpse of that honored number.Nick Green jostled with a teammate in center to catch fly balls as expletive-laden songs echoed through the park. Sound booth standards are lenient when the home team takes batting practice.I preoccupied myself with trying to identify...
Game 97: July 26, 2009 Orioles6W: David Hernandez (3-2)42-55, 1 game winning streak Red Sox2L: John Smoltz (1-4)57-40, 1 game losing streak Highlights: Six starts into the Smoltz Study results are disappointing. The veteran righty left the game in the fifth inning with 9 hits, 6 earned runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and a home run. Perhaps the 42-year old should have hung up his spikes and began his vigil for inclusion in the Hall of Fame instead of trying to get one more season out of his arm. Nick Markakis arced a sacrifice fly to center just as Earl Weaver was acknowledged at the Hall of Fame. As is the modern-day custom, Markakis was congratulated for granting his team the first inning lead upon his return to the dugout. The Earl of Baltimore would have growled at the right fielder, “Next time could you score a run without making an out?”At first, the induction of Jim Rice did not energize his team from afar. When his part of the ceremony began the Red Sox went down in order in the third. More evidence was added to the oft-cited argument that the Red Sox batters cannot hit rookie pitchers as...
Game 92: July 20, 2009 Red Sox3L: John Smoltz (1-3)55-37, 3 game losing streak Rangers6W: Kevin Millwood (9-7)S: C.J. Wilson (8)50-41, 2 game winning streak Highlights: Last night In the race for the lead in the AL East the Yankees caught up with the Red Sox. But there is another kind of race to be discussed. Today is the 50th anniversary of the day the last segregated major league team in baseball integrated. Pumpsie Green was called up from the Minneapolis Millers to the Boston Red Sox more than 12 years after Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers. I watched NESN’s documentary on Jim Rice that featured a surprisingly forthright segment on the anti-busing riots in Boston, which exploded around the time of Rice’s major league debut. Rice had already experienced integration in his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina in his senior year of high school. When the boundaries were drawn to desegregate the school district, Rice’s residence was placed such that he had to transfer from Westside High School to formerly all-white T.L. Hanna High School.Who drew those lines, I wonder? Clearly it was white school district officials who wanted the best athlete the town had ever produced...
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Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library’s Sports Temples of Boston.