Empyreal Environs

Game 109: August 6, 2005
Red Sox (62-47), 3
Twins (57-53), 4
L: Mike Timlin (4-2)
W: Joe Nathan (4-3)

It may have been for comedic effect, but in the 1st inning David Ortiz made as if to bunt on Johan Santana’s first pitch to him. The sham bunt attempt by the .557 slugging designated hitter was one of the few enjoyable moments in a game riddled with miscues and missed opportunities.

David Wells’s outing was 5 innings of Cy Young and 1 inning of Jason Young. Indeed, Wells flirted with a perfect game his first 3 innings. In the 6th inning, Wells gave up five straight singles, which generated 3 earned runs. If this game was a gift to Twins, Wells was the one who took time out from lunch (a big deal for him) to go to the mall shop for the present.

Manny Ramirez got the present from Wells and picked out festive wrapping paper in the top of the 7th when he grounded into a double play with 1 out and the bases loaded. He had Adam “Fiver” Stern wrap it prettily in the 8th with yet another patented Fiver foul-up. Fiver was thrown out when trying to reach second base on what looked like to him a passed ball from Juan Rincon to Joe Mauer.

Bill Mueller put a nice, bright bow on the package when he flung the ball hit by Michael Cuddyer over first base defensive replacement Roberto Petagine’s head. With no outs, Cuddyer stood on second with Nick Punto at the plate. The Twins second baseman laid down a sacrifice bunt that Timlin fielded with relative ease, and Boston seemed assured of an out with a runner on third. Instead, Timlin’s throw to first skittered by a lurching Tony Graffanino, allowing Cuddyer to cross home plate. Ballgame.

The Red Sox handed over the game gift-wrapped and without resistance. I like that this team is generous and giving, but this is not what I had in mind.