Imperial
Game 107: August 4, 2005
Royals (38-70), 9
Red Sox (62-45), 11
L: Leo Nunez (2-2)
W: Matt Clement (11-3)
H: Chad Bradford (3)
S: Curt Schilling (8)
The Fenway Park crowd rolled out the welcomes for Matt Clement who made his first start since July 26th, the evening of the game he was struck on the side of the head by a line drive. He was mentally at ease on the mound seemingly unaffected by his recent mishap. His line of 5 innings pitched with 5 hits, 6 earned runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, and no home runs was hopefully an indication of rust rather than any lingering malady. Before the incident, Clement had been giving up home runs at a quicker pace, and he stated he would like counter this trend.
Before the game started the Red Sox made a roster move by putting John Olerud on the 15-day disabled list and calling up Roberto Petagine. My estimation of him at the time he was signed was unkind as I thought he would be hot in spring training and fizzle out during the regular season. In his time with the Pawtucket Red Sox he accrued a batting average of .327, on-base percentage of .452, and slugged .635. He had 63 walks compared to 46 strikeouts, so he’s not showing the best knowledge of the strike zone, but the trade-off is is respectable home run total of 20 (compared to Kevin Millar’s 4). Petagine went 0 for 3 with a walk, but there is world enough, and time.
The Red Sox fell behind early when Matt Stairs singled to right to score Ruben Gotay. The 4th inning was a big one for the Royals, and not coincidentally Clement had his shakiest frame. He gave up walks to David DeJesus, Gotay, and Stairs to load the bases, and then hit Emil Brown with his first pitch. On the 2-2 count, Terence Long doubled to left to clear the bases and build Royals’ lead to 5.
As they tend to do, the Red Sox takes another team’s big inning and improves upon it, strengthening and conditioning for better shine and more manageability. The bottom of the 4th showcased both the Royals’ ineptness and the Red Sox’s relentlessness. Jason Varitek led off the inning with a base on balls and his team was able to bat through the lineup. Boston scored 4 runs, aided greatly by 4 more walks. When Varitek returned to the plate, it was the 120th time the bases were loaded for him. Unlike those previous 119 times, however, the veteran catcher cleared the visitor’s bullpen to hit his first career grand slam.
The sound and fury of the final innings resulting in a score of 11-9 makes it seem closer than it truly was. The Red Sox executed their 30th come from behind victory. This game was Yaz. Next they go for Williams.
Returning to the Kansas City Monarchs retrospective, I found an even better link for Muehlebach Field, a.k.a. Municipal Stadium. It was engineered by Osborn Engineering, the same firm that designed both Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. The park was the site of the actual first professional baseball night games, started in 1930 with portable lighting and enhanced in 1932 with permanent fixtures. Five years before the supposed first night game at Crosley Field, the Monarchs had night games for several reasons, among them being to generate hype with the novelty of playing what was traditionally a day game at odd hours and to satiate their primarily working class fans’ demands to see their team by accommodating their schedules. Next time someone mentions the Crosley Field game, be sure to remember the Monarchs and their pioneering evening engagements.
