Slugging
| Game 102: July 26, 2007 | |||
 Red Sox |
14 | W: Julian Tavarez (6-8) | 62-40, 1 game winning streak 21-9-4 series record |
| Indians | 9 | L: Cliff Lee (5-8) | 58-43, 1 game losing streak 19-13-2 series record |
| Highlights: Wily Mo Peña is provided a showcase and the brawny outfielder took full advantage by going 4-for-5 with a scorching three-run homer in the seventh, four RBIs total, and no strikeouts (and he didn’t even have the best night for the Red Sox). It was a less than subtle reminder to Boston’s potential trading partners that, in the right environment, Peña can be a beast at the dish. Note that well, Jon Daniels | |||
As meager as the previous two games were in offense last night’s RBI jamboree was not entirely unexpected. Cliff Lee’s performance has, well, fallen off a cliff and Kason Gabbard is an ace only when in the lee of Fenway’s façade.
Neither starter lasted longer than five innings; both managers seemed to be bluffing each other with 2-7 offsuits, playing their poor hands much longer than they wished because they were pot committed. A win for the visitors meant a series victory and for the home team it meant salvaging a split.
Lee attempted to reclaim some amount of dignity by defiantly tipping his cap to the swarming boos that enshrouded him as he departed the hill in the fifth without getting and out and allowing three runs to score. Rather than proud and confident it made him look insolent and weak. He didn’t live up to the fans’ expectations and they expressed it. He allowed it to permeate his mind and responded in kind. Wouldn’t someone with self-imposed standards not permit outside influences to direct his actions?
Someone so oblivious to externalities, one who is focused solely on a single mission but still graces his dedication with a touch of whimsy is none other than Manny Ramirez.
He who “ain’t got no pop” launched two homers. His first was a solo shot in the second that cleared the first stand of vegetation in dead center and bounced amongst the trees behind the shrubbery, using wood to send the ball into the woods.
The second circuit clout came in the eighth after Cleveland inched their way back into the game the inning previous with an RBI single by Travis Hafner and a three-run homer propelled by Ryan Garko. The score was a hedonistic 12-9 and Ramirez rendered it even more unseemly with a two-run jack over the head of Grady Sizemore.
Coco Crisp, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek also contributed to the outbreak, and could be potential guest stars in Ramirez’s NESN series. The obvious title would of course be “Manny Being Manny” and it would be described as a light-hearted romp in the slightly-askew world of professional slugger Manny Ramirez as he wends his way through cars shows, online auctions, and the bedsides of sickly relatives.
Julian Tavarez would be a frequent cast member, stealing the show whenever he appeared with his unique brand of humor. Despite his bizarre actions, he’d graciously accept whatever role presented him, just as he does on the field. Something Lee may consider doing when he is asked to pitch from the bullpen.
