Spiritless
Game 161: September 30, 2006
Orioles (70-91), 5
Red Sox (85-76), 4
W: Chris Ray (5-9)
H: Lenny DiNardo (1)
H: Bryan Corey (3)
BS, L: Mike Timlin (8, 6-6)
It’s not so much the loss that upset me last night. It was uncertainty about the future.
Manny Ramirez was the designated hitter last night and he did his thing: two for three, walk, home run. His longball in the sixth inning cleared the wall with ease. Will this be one of his last appearances in a Red Sox uniform?
Wily Mo Peña followed Ramirez by getting a base on balls. Will the young slugger harness his untapped potential and possibly replace Ramirez in the lineup?
Trot Nixon doubled off the Monster and a hustling Peña scored from first. Would that be one of the right fielder’s last RBIs for the only team he has known?
Carlos Peña drove in a run in the sixth with a grounder just past the glove of the diving Brian Roberts. The Haverhill native, who was one the pinnacle of prospect lists, now is an itinerant infielder looking for someone, anyone to give him a sustained chance in a major league lineup. But he had his autumnal moment in a Boston uniform, something he probably never dreamt was possible. Where will he be given is fourth chance?
Mike Timlin came apart in the ninth inning. He relinquished two consecutive singles in the final inning, meaning he had to work out of a runners at the corners, no out jam. Has Timlin reached the end of the line?
Neither team seemed to want to win. Ramon Hernandez grounded sharply to Mike Lowell who checked the runner at third and relayed to Mark Loretta. Loretta was slow to relay to first, however, so again there were runners at first and third.
Corey Patterson, who had pinch ran for Miguel Tejada, didn’t manage to score from third on a passed ball. But Kevin Millar, who never lacks for enthusiasm, showed some spark.
The Orioles first baseman singled high off the wall to plate the tying and go-ahead runs. In most parks the hit would have likely been a homer. The galumphing Millar, however, ran into the second out of the inning.
David Ortiz pinch hit for Dustin Pedroia to lead off the ninth and very nearly tied the game with a mighty blast to center field. Will the Red Sox renovation crew build out Williamsburg further to catch more of Ortiz’s deep fly balls and provide more space for tomato plants?
