Retreat
Game 25: May 2, 2005
Red Sox (13-12), 3
Tigers (12-12), 8
L: Blaine Neal (0-1)
W: Jeremy Bonderman (4-2)
H: Kyle Farnsworth (4)
S: Ugueth Urbina (4)
I would have preferred a snow out. Something to block out the vision of the 4th inning, where, with no outs and the bases loaded, the Red Sox did not score.
It’s rare that Manny Ramirez looks awkward against a pitcher. He looked overmatched against Francisco Rodriguez last year. Against Bonderman he didn’t look as befuddled, but struck out in that key inning. Joe Castiglione has said he believes Ramirez sets up pitchers, making them think that their offspeed pitches are working by swinging at them freely. Then, when the pitcher throws the same pitch thinking that it’s working, Manny pulls the string. That wasn’t happening against Bonderman.
So, in the battle of the Jeremae (Jeremies? Jerice?), the traditional spelling won. Nice name, Hebrew in origin, meaning “appointed by God.” In baseball, when spelled with an “i” it means 5 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 base on balls, 7 strikeouts, and a no decision despite a surprisingly strong outing. When ending with a “y,” it means 6 innings, 8 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts, getting out of a bases loaded, no out jam against the meat of the order unscathed, and the earning the win.
Mike Maroth, the former 20-game loser, pitches against John Halama tonight. Despite Maroth’s history, it’s said that you can’t get to the 20-game mark without some talent. Otherwise, why would they keep on sending the pitcher out game after game?
