Empyreal Environs

Game 16: April 20, 2006
Devil Rays (8-8), 5
Red Sox (11-5), 1
W: Scott Kazmir (2-1)
H: Travis Harper (1)
S: Dan Miceli (4)
L: Tim Wakefield (1-3)

After this game, the fans who gathered to bid farewell to the players noted that Tim Wakefield’s SUV had a bumper sticker that said “Got runs?” Whenever Wakefield walks past Matt Clement, he pulls out the inside of his pant pockets and holds up a piece of cardboard upon which is scrawled, “Sober, drug-free. Need runs to support family. Thank you and God Bless.” The knuckleballer went eight innings with a line of eight hits, three runs (two of them earned), two walks, two strikeouts, and one gigantic homer launched by Jonny Gomes in the seventh inning.

Gomes was in peak form in the late innings; both his homers were crushed over the Sports Authority sign on the Monster and both were the first pitch of his at bat. If Gomes played for a big market team, the press would be clamoring for sound bites from the toast of the town batsman. The slugger was in contention for the AL Rookie of the Year award last year, finishing third behind Huston Street and Robinson Cano. He garnered two first-place votes and 39 points for his 21 roundtrippers, .372 OBP, and .534 slugging. Cano finished second with 14 homers, .320 OBP, and .458 slugging. See what media exposure can bring you?

Speaking of overlooked Devil Ray players, Scott Kazmir pitched an outstanding five and two-thirds innings, striking out seven hitters. The capable southpaw continued to confound our best hitters: David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez struck out one time each. Kazmir did walk Ramirez in the sixth inning and was subsequently pulled from the because of a possible injury.

Perhaps one of the highlights of the evening was the tug-of-war between two spectators for Josh Bard’s bat in the second inning. You could call it the “Bat-Tle Royal.” Or “The Rumble for the Lumber.” Bard was fine with not having the bat; he wasn’t using it anyway.

Willie Harris made is Red Sox debuted in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter for Wily Mo Peña. The veteran utilityman was brought up to replace Adam Stern, who will get more frequent playing time in Triple-A Pawtucket. Harris struck out in his two at bats.

The Red Sox failed to secure their second series sweep. Games like these will happen, but what is of greater concern is the utter inability of Tavarez to get a batter out. He relinquished a home run and two doubles, which amounted to two earned runs.