Empyreal Environs

Game 151: September 20, 2005
Red Sox (88-63), 15
Devil Rays (63-89), 2
W: Curt Schilling (7-8)
L: Seth McClung (11-6)
0.5 game ahead in the division
1 game winning streak

The absolute brutality with which the Red Sox went after Tampa Bay’s pitchers was matched by Raymond’s abuse of Wally. If you don’t have NESN, you may have missed how Raymond mocked and battered Wally prior to the game. Raymond commandeered a remote control monster truck, put a beanie replica of himself in the driver’s seat, and commenced running over Wally repeatedly. To add to the deplorable display, Raymond then pretended to give emergency care to our green hero. Jerry Remy said he wouldn’t be surprised if Raymond not only got suspended but indicted as well because of the extent of the violence. Bob Watson had better come down as hard on Raymond as he did Bronson Arroyo.

However, I would like to point out, lest it get lost in the offensive bombardment, that Manny Delcarmen stood up for one of his teammates last night by drilling Nick Green. He saw what that ruffian Raymond did to Wally and retaliated. It’s clever of the rookie to select someone whose surname is “Green,” wouldn’t you say? This is oldtime baseball; Lou Piniella would understand. You go after my mascot, I go after your backup second baseman -- that’s how the game was played in the days of flannel uniforms and sleeper cars.

Last night was a good, old-fashioned whipping behind the shed of the Devil Rays; full repayment for the plunkings the niggling Piniella ordered last series. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez started it off early with their first back-to-back home run combination of the season. That brought back sweet memories. Last season they had tied the major league record of 6 back-to-back home runs held by Hank Greenberg and Rudy York of the 1938 Detroit Tigers and Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordóñez of the 2000 Chicago White Sox. The best part was that The Heckler, whose Red Sox target this year is Ortiz, hardly had any words erupt from his maw before Ortiz hit a bomb on the first pitch he saw from McClung. Ortiz went 4 for 5 with 2 round-trippers. The outfielder Ramirez had a 4 for 4 evening with 2 homers.

The distinction between Ramirezes must be drawn for Hanley Ramirez made his major league debut. There was a chance that Hanley would bat with the bases loaded had fellow call-up Alejandro Machado got on base in the 7th. Instead, Machado grounded out to second and Hanley led off the 8th. Hanley was called out on a swinging strike which wasn’t after 8 pitches, but Bruce Froemming wasn’t impressed by Hanley’s plate discipline.

The only mar on the otherwise celebratory proceedings was Boston allowing Carl Crawford to score in the 3rd inning. After singling to get on base, Crawford tagged up on Jorge Cantu’s fly ball to deep center because of the leisurely manner Johnny Damon had returning the ball into the infield.

Each series is necessary and the rubber game will be played tonight. With Tim Wakefield and Scott Kazmir squaring off, the series finale comes down to a battle of the aces.