Empyreal Environs

Game 65: June 16, 2006
Red Sox (37-28), 4
Braves (30-38), 1
W: Jon Lester (1-1)
H: Rudy Seanez (2)
H: Mike Timlin (12)
S: Jonathan Papelbon (21)
L: Tim Hudson (6-5)

Jon Lester should probably consider this his actual major league debut as his premiere start was marred by a five-hour rain delay. Lester tallied his first big league win against the Braves, a team that had long been NL East contenders but is now mired in the middle of the standings with a losing record. The left-handed pitcher turned in six innings allowing five hits, a single earned run, three walks, and five strikeotus.

The only run came in the bottom of the fifth. The Red Sox rookie pitcher worked himself into a jam after giving up a leadoff single to Todd Pratt, who could eat no fat. Marcus Giles, who is not a farmer, also singled and Lester walked old acquaintance Edgar Renteria to load the bases. But Lester buckled down, permitting only a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chipper Jones, who is not so square. Mr. Jones will stick around; he’s everybody’s friend.

In the second inning, Mike Lowell singled to the opposite field to plate Trot Nixon for their team’s first run. Nixon slid nimbly to evade an attempted tag by Pratt, licking the platter clean. The Red Sox third baseman also ended the game with a dazzling snatch of Brian McCann’s sharp liner.

Jason Varitek, known for chasing the high cheese and pressing too hard with the bases loaded, launched the pivotal hit in the third inning. After Tim Hudson littered the bases with Red Sox runners with his walks, the visiting team’s backstop dispatched a double off the base of the wall in center field to tidy things up.

The Braves’ home uniforms have nifty belt loops: they are of standard cut but have navy blue trim outlining them. This foray into the fashionable may have sissified the team. Former football player Brian Jordan was pelted by Alex Cora’s batted ball in the fourth and left the game. Has Jordan turned into Tony Womack?

How sad to see the mighty Braves franchise falter. Winner of their division for the past 14 seasons, perhaps they are entering a period of malaise and complacency, mirroring their fans. As much as I respect the organization, I hope this trend continues for two more games.

Note: “Skookum” may have been derived from Salish, a people of the Northwest, and means “strong in body.” In popular usage, it has come to mean anything positive.