Empyreal Environs

Game 121: August 20, 2005
Red Sox (70-51), 2
Angels (71-52), 4
L: Bronson Arroyo (10-8)
W: Ervin Santana (7-5)
H: Scot Shields (26)
S: Francisco Rodriguez (28)

Hey, at least it wasn’t Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. That’s one of the few positive things I have to say about this game.

Major league hitters, please stop hitting our pitchers. This isn’t dodgeball, mind you. And that applies to you, Mr. Orlando Cabrera, even though you are one of The Twenty-Five. I saw you hit Arroyo in the 1st inning, and don’t say you didn’t. No stuffed turtle for a week!

The 3rd inning began inauspiciously for the Red Sox starter-cum-singer when he hit Adam Kennedy after getting ahead of the second baseman 0-2 with 1 out. Chone Figgins flied out on the first pitch, and Arroyo was going to town with 2 outs and a runner on first. Kennedy managed to steal second while Cabrera was batting, a rarity for Arroyo as he had only surrendered a single stolen base previously. He walked Cabrera after coming from behind in the count to make it full. Johnny Damon had another awful fielding effort when he allowed Darin Erstad’s liner to skip by him, permitting 2 runs score. Recall that the center fielder had requested not to be in the lineup for a day game in the Metrodome because he felt he would be a defensive liability. This lack of self-assurance is badly timed since Adam Stern was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a thumb injury today.

Edgar Renteria’s nickname is “Igor,” according to Fox. Is it pronounced “eye-gor”?

Lenny DiNardo, who filled the vacancy provided by Stern’s injury, pitched in the 7th inning. Terry Francona sanctioned too much leeway with the lefty, who gave up 2 singles, a steal, and a run before getting an out and the hook. Mike Myers replaced DiNardo and nearly got the second out but for a throwing error by Renteria that granted Erstad first base and advanced Figgins. Chad Bradford joined the fray and Vladimir Guerrero singled on his first pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch by the submarining righty to Casey Kotchman enabled Figgins to score the second run of the inning. Kotchman struck out swinging at Bradford’s erratic trajectories. The fourth pitcher of the inning, Mike Remlinger, got the final out by making Maicer Izturis fly out to center.

The Red Sox made it halfway back with a rally in the 8th. Singles by Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Damon, and Renteria provided the only Boston runs of the game, with Renteria earning 2 RBIs. With runners on first and second and 2 out, David Ortiz had the chance to be the hero again. He struck out swinging to end the inning, however.

This game’s folly was not being able to get baserunners. Rather than lack of timely hitting like the first game of the series, there was just a lack of hitting, period. I’ve mentioned how poorly Red Sox hitters fare against rookie pitchers, and this showing against Santana was no exception. I suggest ramping up the advanced scouting team to full gear to scrutinize this young pitcher, whom Boston might likely face again in the postseason.