Uninspired
Game 108: August 5, 2005
Red Sox (62-46), 0
Twins (56-53), 12
L: Bronson Arroyo (9-7)
W: Brad Radke (7-10)
What the heck was that? Were the Red Sox feeling guilty for their recent spate of indestructibility? Is it not enough of a challenge to start the game with a lead, so they want to spot the other team a few runs to make a dramatic comeback in the later innings?
Except the comeback never came. Much like the fable of the tortoise and the hare, the Red Sox entered the contest with a lackadaisical cockiness. Despite Johnny Damon leading off with triple in the 1st inning, he ended up not scoring, a harbinger of ill things.
The Twins uncharacteristically went for the jugular, seemingly taking out their frustration at losing their All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter due to an injury sustained at Fenway Park on a hapless Boston team. Radke pitched what was his best performance of the year so far (7 innings, 4 hits, no runs, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts) and the Twins lineup combined for 16 hits.
Arroyo’s performance was strangely reminiscent of the Derek Lowe start on June 29, 2004 at Yankee Stadium. With 1 run in, 1 out, and the bases loaded, Arroyo handled a grounder from Justin Morneau and opted to throw to second base instead of first. His throw was not close to his intended target, Edgar Renteria, bounding into the outfield to bring all three Twins to the plate. Arroyo pitched for 3.2 innings with 8 hits, 7 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts.
Lew Ford is becoming a Red Sox-killer of Catalanottolian proportions. Whereas the Blue Jays left fielder is more of a clutch-hitting, RBI-generating threat against Boston because of his place in the lineup, Ford is the type to deliver daggers to the heart in the form of outstanding defensive plays and working the pitch count on the offensive side. He robbed Kevin Millar twice; in the 2nd inning he ranged to his right to catch what would have been an extra base hit and in the 7th he stole what would have been Millar’s 5th home run of the season. In the 6th, the replacement center fielder slid to intercept a fly ball hit by Damon. Ford went 3 for 5 and scored each time he got on base, even inspiring the Minnesotan crowd to a Merloni-like round of “Lews!”
The best thing about the broadcast was yet another Cobalt contest failure.
Remy: This is the worst contest ever. What chance do you have?
Orsillo: [giggles] Zero!
Which is what the Red Sox scored. Tonight the team tries to start a new streak.
