Empyreal Environs

Game 117: August 16, 2005
Red Sox (69-48), 10
Tigers (56-62), 7
W: Chad Bradford (2-0)
BS: Fernando Rodney (4)
L: Craig Dingman (1-2)
10 innings

Going forward, it’s “Jonathan Papelbon,” not “Jon.” Chris Snow established this in the pre-game show. I’ll miss the way the first name rhymed with the last syllable of the last. Another long-awaited (by me, at least) “World According to Mike Myers” aired, this time an interview with Papelbon about his first major league appearance. Papelbon talked about trying to zone out the crowd at Fenway, but how he wasn’t able to completely block out the roar. He never got the ball he used to earn his first strikeout, but Jason Varitek did give him a game ball. Myers talked about how he got on the internet to get the scouting on the rookie and prepare for the interview, but couldn’t find anything. Doesn’t Myers know about Sox Prospects? The righty listed his pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, and splitfinger; no change-up. Myers also talked some fluff stuff, asking the rookie about his favorite birthday gift, which was a trampoline. He got an add-on boxing ring for Christmas and would beat his brother up in it.

Speaking of names, is there any way a pitcher named Dingman could ever not get out of a game unscathed? He had a single win, and I thought to myself, “Self, that must have been a win over the Kansas City Royals, where the magnitude of their unusual appellations overcame the Dingmanity.” And, indeed, it was against the Royals, specifically Ambiorix Burgos.

Varitek supported his fledgling starter early with a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning after a Ramirez walk. It would be a long time before the Red Sox got on the board again, as Nate Robertson went the next 6 innings without allowing another hit, let alone another run.

Papelbon looked competent again, going 5 innings with 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. He had nearly the same line as his first start, but this time with no home runs. He worked out of a jam in the 4th inning. Chris Shelton led off with a single, but Papelbon retained his composure and struck out the next batter, the lethal Dmitri Young. He fell behind Magglio Ordóñez 3-0 and eventually walked him. Most impressively, he went in on Craig Monroe, getting the left fielder off the plate but also allowing the runners to advance because the ball got away from his backstop. Monroe struck out swinging on the very next pitch, and Brandon Inge followed on 3 straight strikes.

Detroit tied the game in the 5th inning. Omar Infante started things off with a single and Papelbon hit Vance Wilson trying to give him the Monroe Doctrine. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco singled to center. Damon got credited with his third assist of season by initiating the rundown of Polanco. Shelton got a hit and reached second on error after Manny Ramirez fumbled the ball in his glove after it bounced for a single. Papelbon managed to get through the heart of Detroit’s order, steeling himself after walking Young by inducing Ordóñez to pop out to Edgar Renteria for the final out.

The Red Sox killed the 6th and 7th innings with double plays. The 6th featured a strike ’em out, throw ’em out of David Ortiz and Edgar Renteria while the 7th was a 1-4-3 suffered by Tony Graffanino. The Tigers pulled ahead with a Ordóñez sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the 8th. Damon didn’t even try to throw out Shelton as he tagged for home.

What’s the opposite of a “Grady”? How about a “Trammell”? Alan Trammell pulled his starting pitcher to bring in bring in his pseudo-closer Rodney. Ortiz, so used to hitting homers in Comerica Park since he acquitted himself well in the Home Run Derby, hit a home run to tie the game in the 9th.

The 10th inning showed the thinness of both teams’ bullpens. The Red Sox scored 7 runs, with both Ortiz and Varitek hitting their second dingers of the game. Although Mike Remlinger got his first outs as a Red Sox player, he crumbled to load the bases and give up a grand slam to Monroe. We’ve hopefully seen the last of Remlinger, and by the end of the season Detroit may have a new manager.

If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well
It were done quickly; if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’d jump the life to come.
Macbeth
William Shakespeare