Tailspin
Game 130: August 27, 2006
Red Sox (71-59), 3
Mariners (61-69), 6
L: Kyle Snyder (3-3)
W: Cha Seung Baek (1-0)
H: Sean Green (3)
H: Rafael Soriano (17)
S: J.J. Putz (27)
Fans of the Tekken series of fighting games will recognize the family name “Baek.” Doo San Baek is a practitioner of tae kwon do, a martial art characterized by kicks to take advantage of the greater length of the leg compared to the arm.
The Mariners’ Baek knew how to use his arm, though. Looking over the list of moves for the Tekken Baek in the fifth iteration of the game, the maneuver Baek probably unleashed on the visitors was “Hunting Serpent.” He kept the Red Sox hitless for five and one-third innings. It wasn’t a dominating no-hitter, however; he gave five Boston batters free passes and struck out four. Since the Red Sox’s offensive ranks were diminished because of injuries to Manny Ramirez and Wily Mo Peña, it was still enough for the starter to notch his first win.
David Ortiz broke up the no-no with a flourish in the sixth. His 47th homer glided majestically into the right field stands. Mike Lowell followed the leader with a roundtripper that cleared the scoreboard on the left field wall, but no other Red Sox batters managed to cross home for the rest of the match-up.
Carlos Peña has been unstoppable in Triple-A and has been called up to help fill the gaps on the depleted Boston bench. It is, perhaps, too little, too late. Which is the story of August.
Some observations gleaned from the Boston Red Sox Game Notes:
- The starters are 52-44 with a 5.05 ERA.
- The bullpen is 19-15-37. Amazingly, they have a winning record, but only thanks to Ortiz and Mark Loretta’s walk-off hits. Their ERA is 4.38.
- The team is 9-20 when only three or four runs are scored.
For specific details on last night’s game, click below.
top 1st: Coco Crisp reached first on BB. Mark Loretta lined into DP on hit and run
David Ortiz BB
Kevin Youkilis returned to lineup
bottom 1st: Dustin Pedroia’s throw pulled Loretta off of first. Throw tailed away because of sidearm approach. Chris Snelling base hit.
Adrian Beltre BB
Alex Cora bobbled grounder off the bat of Richie Sexson; all runners safe
bottom 2nd: Youkilis having all sorts of trouble in left field.
After Snyder fell behind 2-0, Ichiro Suzuki was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Crisp basket catch of on the run, allowing Betancourt to tag up from third
bottom 3rd: Raul Ibanez reached on error by Pedroia
Inexplicable call to have Ibanez try to steal second. Strike out, throw out double play
top 5th: Leadoff walk by Eric Hinske
Pedroia fouled ball off himself and crumpled. Thirteen-pitch at bat.
Hinske showed how to evade a tag with a slide
Broussard’s toss to Baek, who was on the run and covering first, was off-target allowing Hinske to score. Pedroia was tagged out to end the inning as he was caught up between second and third.
bottom 5th: Suzuki single
Snelling double
Snyder walked Beltre; bases loaded
Ibanez grand slam
Sexson ringing liner to left
Julian Tavarez took the mound
Bases loaded again after singles by Sexson, Betancourt, and Rene Rivera.
Loretta got force out at home but Lopez’s throw to first went awry and another run scored.
Seattle batted around
Suzuki IBB again
Snelling strikeout
top 6th: First hit is Ortiz’s homer
Next hit is also a roundtripper, this time by Mike Lowell
bottom 6th: Cora unassisted double play to end the inning
top 7th: Pedroia, sliding, tagged out by Broussard
bottom 7th: Hinske diving catch for second out
Swept by Seattle; first time since September 1989.
