Empyreal Environs

Game 78: July 1, 2006
Red Sox (49-29), 11
Marlins (35-42), 5
L: Brian Moehler (5-7)
W: Tim Wakefield (6-8)

A few days in advance of Independence Day David Americo Ortiz Arias and Manuel Aristides Ramirez Onelcida provided pyrotechnics of their own. Both sluggers powered two circuit clouts each. Ramirez’s three-run, opposite field homer in the first not only granted his team the lead but also marked his 2,000th hit. Ramirez joined a dozen Red Sox players, an elite group counting Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, Ted Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski as members.

The Red Sox are now free of the burden of continuing the errorless streak. Doug Mirabelli threw errantly into center field in his attempt to safeguard second base from the larcenous Hanley Ramirez. Alex Gonzalez made a nearly credible deke backing up Mark Loretta, feigning possession of the ball. The Marlin’s Ramirez froze momentarily thinking his counterpart had caught the ball off the rebound, but continued on to third after realizing the ball was dawdling into the outfield. I wonder if Mirabelli was fined by the kangaroo court?

Moments later Gonzalez committed his second error of the season with an off-target throw of his own. What should have been a routine force at second base and a single runner at first devolved into runners at second and third with one out. Tim Wakefield retained his composure to strike out Jeremy Hermida and inducing a ground out by Alfredo Amezaga.

Wakefield, a Florida native, enjoyed his homecoming by tallying his sixth win. It should be more, but the knuckleballer has been the victim of paltry run support. Until last night, Wakefield was tied for third-lowest run support in the AL; his team scored 3.94 runs while in the game. In these days of itinerancy, Wakefield also reached a significant milestone with his 300th Red Sox start. It shall be noted that Jimy Williams, who wouldn’t put Wakefield in the rotation with a gun to his head, last managed a major league team in 2004 and is now a special instructor for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, wandering between the Durham Bulls, Montgomery Biscuits, and Visalia Oaks.

Another Red Sox player relished his return with his three for five showing, all three of which were doubles. With each outing Mike Lowell makes his case for comeback player of the year stronger. Along with his reinvigorated offensive production, Lowell extended his personal errorless streak to 34 games.

Theo Epstein made an appearance in the booth to spread the word on the upcoming benefit concert, Hot Stove, Cool Music: The Fenway Sessions on July 12th. Epstein said Peter Gammons is doing well given the circumstances. May Gammons never slow down, never grow old.