Tapering
Game 131: August 28, 2006
Red Sox (71-60), 0
Athletics (75-56), 9
L: Kason Gabbard (0-3)
W: Esteban Loiaza (8-7)
Like Sunday’s game, the only Red Sox highlights were on the defensive side. Eric Hinske began the exploits in the first inning. The Red Sox right fielder chased down Milton Bradley’s fly ball to the gap at full stride and stretched at last second to glove the ball for the second out of the first inning. The play saved a run from scoring and stopped Bradley from an extra base hit.
Don Orsillo compared Hinske to Dwight Evans, eliciting a quick rebuke from Jerry Remy.
Alex Cora followed up with a superb diving stop and glove flip to Dustin Pedroia to turn in the final out of the first.
Cora also had a marvelous double play to end the fifth inning. The shortstop ranged far into the shallow outfield to make a basket catch of Mark Ellis’s pop fly. He then turned and fired the ball to first on a single bounce in time to double up the retreating Nick Swisher.
As has been the story lately, the Red Sox struggled offensively. The were shut out for the fifth time this season and have played eight games in a row with ten hits or less. With David Ortiz as a late scratch due to heartbeat irregularity, the lineup was:
- Coco Crisp, CF
- Alex Cora, SS
- Mark Loretta, DH
- Kevin Youkilis, LF
- Eric Hinske, RF
- Mike Lowell, 3B
- Javy Lopez, C
- Carlos Peña, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Despite success after his stint on the disabled list, last night Keith Foulke reverted to 2005 form. He allowed home runs to Frank Thomas, Swisher, and Adam Melheuse. The game was already out of Boston’s grasp at the time, however.
Even if Oakland had only a two-run lead, the game would still seem unwinnable.
September can’t come soon enough.
