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Carlos Beltran has seen the weirdest things in his at bats. He had the bat in his hands when Kolten Wong was picked off of first base to end Game 4 of the 2013 World Series. He had taken ball from Anthony Ranaudo when Christian Vazquez popped up to catch Brett Gardner stuck between first and second. Your browser does not support iframes. Gardner tried to draw out the rundown so that Derek Jeter could presumably steal home (as if this were possible these days). Jemile Weeks saw that Jeter strayed too far from third base and pivoted away from the Gardner imbroglio to get the ball to Brock Holt, who tagged Jeter. The split second Holt secured third and he turned his attention back to Gardner. Gardner’s speed couldn’t save him from Allen Craig’s tag. To me the “2” the Yankees are wearing to honor Jeter isn’t for the retiring shortstop but for that amazing, improbable double play. It also is representative of the intelligence quotient of someone who continues to allow Jeter to bat in the two-hole. Despite being a rookie Vazquez has a commanding presence behind the plate. He handles his fellow rookies well and isn’t shy...
Game 116: August 8, 2008 Red Sox 3 L: Jon Lester (10-4) 66-50, 1 game losing streak White Sox 5 W: Mark Buehrle (9-10)H: Matt Thornton (11)H: D.J. Carrasco (4)S: Bobby Jenks (23) 64-50, 1 game winning streak Highlights: Dustin Pedroia plated the only runs by the Red Sox of the game in the eighth inning with his tenth home run. Jason Varitek singled and J.D. Drew walked before him. Otherwise it was a fruitless night for the Red Sox at the dish.Two rundown plays in the bottom of the seventh changed the complexion of the game.Juan Uribe was the victim in the first sequence. He had reached on a single and was to have been off with contact on a hit and run play with Orlando Cabrera in the box. Jon Lester, being a lefty, was privy Ozzie Guillen’s ploy and initiated the 1-3-6-3 put-out.But Cabrera would come back to haunt the Red Sox, and not in a pleasant “we loved your handshakes and contributions in 2004” sort of way. He had already doubled to plate two runs in the fifth. The shortstop walked to reach first and hung around the keystone as A.J. Pierzynski’s caromed off the...
Game 114: August 5, 2008 Red Sox 8 W: Josh Beckett (10-8) 65-49, 1 game winning streak Royals 2 L: Brian Bannister (7-10) 53-61, 1 game losing streak Highlights: Beckett attained double digits in wins at last. In 2007 he was one of the first in the league to reach 10 wins on his way to 20. This year has proved to be a struggle for consistency and run support, but a perfect balance was struck last night. Beckett went six and two-third innings with a tally of four hits, two earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts. One of the runs was allowed by Mike Timlin, but the mop-up man settled in to shut down the home team lineup in the eighth. In a mere nine pitches Chris Smith dismissed three Royals, securing the win. Kauffman Stadium ground rules state: Foul poles -- above surrounding fenceline is a home run. Below surrounding fenceline is in play.Ball going into dugout, camera bays or hitting padded protective railings along dugout is out of play.Ball hitting guy wires supporting backstop screen is the same as ball going into stands.Batted or thrown ball that hits tarpaulin area cover is in play.Thrown ball...
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Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library’s Sports Temples of Boston.