Rive
Game 80: July 3, 2005
Blue Jays (42-40), 5
Red Sox (46-34), 2
W: Roy Halladay (12-4)
S: Scott Schoeneweis (1)
L: Bronson Arroyo (6-5)
The Red Sox frittered away two bases loaded situations in the 6th and 9th. The 6th started off as a perfect comeback statement. Renteria singled to right, Ortiz did the same to center, and Ramirez walked on 7 pitches to load the bases. Nixon flied out to center and Renteria was thrown out at home for the 8-2 double play. Varitek then put the inning out of its misery with a first pitch fly out to left fielder Catalanotto, who has been replaced by Reed Johnson as the requisite Red Sox killer.
Although Ramirez began the 9th inning by popping out, momentum built when Nixon walked on 5 pitches. Then the team captain and Olerud singled consecutively, plating Nixon. Mueller followed with a superlative at bat in which he got behind 0-2, but fouled off pitch after pitch to keep the at bat alive. Miguel Batista finally yielded and Mueller lined a hit to center to load the bases. There were no further fireworks, however, and the game ended with whimper rather than a bang.
Halladay went 8 innings, and probably could have gone longer, sturdy has he is. His line was impressive: 5 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. In contrast, Arroyo went the same number of innings but with 8 hits, 3 earned runs, a walk, a strikeout, and a balk.
The disturbing trend of losing to bird teams continues. Blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) seem to be such charming birds, too: “Infamous as a destroyer of eggs and nestlings (and Red Sox pitching). Blue jays are intelligent and adaptable, taking advantage of almost any food resource (such as taters and meatballs). Common, conspicuous, and noisy, blue jays are capable of making a wide variety of sounds (like whooping and hollering when winning a series).”
Congratulations to the Red Sox who made the All-Star team, with the previous years they were selected in parentheses. This will be the first time as All-Star starters for everyone but Ramirez.
- Johnny Damon, OF (2002)
- David Ortiz, DH (2004)
- Manny Ramirez, OF (1995, 1998-2004)
- Jason Varitek, C (2003)
