Empyreal Environs

Game 86: July 9, 2006
Red Sox (53-33), 5
White Sox (57-31), 6
H: Manny Delcarmen (7)
BS: Jonathan Papelbon (3)
BS: Mike Timlin (3)
L: Rudy Seanez (2-1)
W: Cliff Politte (2-2)
19 innings

Fortunately, I was at Midway Airport by the time this game was underway. There were no televisions with this game on because of the World Cup final, but I logged on wirelessly and watched the game progress via MLB Gameday. I would have listened to Joe Castiglione and Jerry Trupiano through Gameday Audio, but the new Intel Macs are not yet able to decode MLB’s streaming media through the Firefox or Safari browsers. A Jere-patented “terrible job” to MLB Advanced Media.

Despite the two-hour flight and an hour delay on the tarmac at Logan Airport, I was back in home in time to see the ending of this marathon game.

Tables were turned: Jonathan Papelbon and Mike Timlin blew saves while Julian Tavarez and Rudy Seanez pitched admirably. Seanez did eventually lose the game in the 19th thanks to a Tadahito Iguchi RBI single with the bases loaded and one out. Prior to that final blow, Seanez got out of a jam in the 17th inning after permitting two runners on base. With no outs, Iguchi popped his bunt directly back to the pitcher. Pablo Ozuna then grounded to Alex Cora, who ranged from third, changed directions, and made an arcing but accurate throw to Kevin Youkilis for a gorgeous double play.

In the top of the 19th, Cora launched a ball that was close to being a homer and actually flipped his bat just after contact. Jermaine Dye showed that he not only had offensive prowess but defensive chops as well as he snagged the ball at the wall on the run. Joey Cora had a laugh at his younger brother’s expense.

Apparently the 11th inning could have been the final ending and may have resulted in a win for the Red Sox. Boston scored two runs in the top of the inning to take the lead 5-3. Javier Lopez couldn’t strike out Jim Thome as he had in Saturday’s game and the slugger doubled to lead off the inning. Timlin, who we all know has difficulty entering a game with men on base, allowed Paul Konerko to single. With runners at the corners, Dye doubled deep enough that both Thome and Ross Gload should have scored and Dye should have been standing up at third base. Gload tarried between third and home, however, forcing him to retreat when the ball returned to the infield. Dye had advanced past third base and was obligated to return to second because of Gload’s blunder. On Dye’s return trip he did not touch third base.

Had the Red Sox appealed, Dye would have been out. But the visitors’ dugout is on the first base side of the field and the misstep was not perceived by Cora (thanks for the correction, Jere). So, the inning continued with no outs and runners at second and third, forcing Terry Francona to intentionally walk A.J. Pierzynski so there would be a force at each station.

Joe Crede lined out to right, which in the alternate scenario would have been the second out of the inning. Then Alex Cintron grounded into a fielder’s choice that should have been the final out, but instead Gload scored to tie the game.

Something lost in the blur of my flight and the longevity of the game was Curt Schilling’s right elbow taking a blow from Thome’s line drive in the sixth inning. Schilling stayed in the game to complete the inning, the x-rays were negative, and the right-hander has the All-Star Break to recuperate. So perhaps Ozzie Guillen was prescient when he kept the Red Sox starter off of the AL All-Star team roster.

As 1919 and this game demonstrates, the White Sox can neither lose nor win cleanly. I love the city, but I can see why the lore of the Chicago Cubs lures so many more fans than their crosstown rivals. Later on this evening I will post a few pictures from my trip and you will be able to see the differences between the two clubs.