Empyreal Environs

Game 33: May 10, 2006
Red Sox (20-13), 3
Yankees (19-12), 7
L: Curt Schilling (5-2)
W: Mike Mussina (6-1)
H: Scott Proctor (3)

Yesterday I called for more of a challenge from the Yankees and they responded, led by their tarnished first baseman Jason Giambi. He homered in the bottom of the third to tie the game, 3-3. Not that his tainted accomplishments diminishes Giambi to his minions in Yankee Stadium. The Yankee fans joined the cause with enthusiastc jeering, their “Boston sucks” chants filling the night sky. I don’t countenance the “Yankees suck” incantation, but at least it is limited to the team. Note that Yankee fans condemn the entire city of Boston.

Terry Francona made a few baffling decisions in this game. I suppose it’s fine to start Willie Harris because of his 5 for 13 record against Mike Mussina, but to keep the mostly hapless utilityman in the entire game was imprudent.

Debuting Mike Holtz as a Red Sox player in the sixth inning with the score in the Yankees’ favor 6-3 on the road also struck me as unwise. Holtz is not the progeny of Gustav Holst, but the pitcher does remind me of the fifth movement of The Planets, “Saturn.” Not because it is subtitled “The Bringer of Old Age” and Holtz is 33 years old, but because bringing Holtz seemed to be a titanic mistake. The journeyman reliever gave up a leadof double to Bernie Williams, who would eventually score the final run of the game for either team.

All of Boston’s runs came early and were the result of home runs. David Ortiz vaulted a two-run into the upper deck, right to a tribe of Red Sox fans, in the first inning. Mike Lowell broke his streak of doubles in the second inning with his solo circuit clout.

It was Curt Schilling who was silenced last night. In a departure from his dominance at the beginning of the season, he lasted only five innings with a line of eight hits, six earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts, and a Red Sox-career high three homers.

Despite the disappointing ending, there were a few classic moments. In the second inning, with New York runners on first and second and two out, Johnny Damon darted a line drive into left field. It looked like it would be a bases-clearing double were it not for Manny Ramirez’s defensive gem. Ramirez snared the scorcher over his shoulder to end the threat and quiet the seething masses. That catch would have been enough, but then the left fielder put his index finger up to his lips to give the crowd the quiet sign.

A Red Sox fan was the recipient of Jorge Posada’s home run ball in the fifth inning. He threw it back onto the field.

Mike Myers and Ortiz squared off for another battle in the seventh inning. The designated hitter prevailed again, mostly because Robinson Cano played the shift too deep. Ortiz grounded to the second baseman but legged out an infield base hit and advanced Loretta to third.

Tonight’s match-up features Tim Wakefield (3.97 ERA) versus Shawn Chacon (3.94 ERA), who enter the game practically even.