Diamonds
| Game 107: August 1, 2007 | |||
| Orioles | 4 | L: John Parrish (2-2) BS: Chad Bradford (3) |
50-56, 1 game losing streak 14-18-2 series record |
 Red Sox |
5 | W: Javier Lopez (2-1) H: Hideki Okajima (19) S: Jonathan Papelbon (24) |
65-42, 1 game winning streak 22-9-4 series record |
| Highlights: Kevin Garnett hugging David Ortiz after the ceremonial first pitch. Breaking a losing streak in a close and late game at Fenway makes for tasty home cooking. | |||
For the second game in a row a Red Sox starter allowed a first-inning home run, but this time the home team was able to overcome the early deficit with late-inning heroics.
David Ortiz absorbed some of the energy exuded by Kevin Garnett after the designated hitter caught the forward’s pitch. With that power Ortiz turned the course of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Garnett couldn’t be happier as he strode to the mound with his Red Sox jersey, beaming a smile brighter than the diamond earrings he usually wears and just as broad as Ortiz’s.
I wonder if Ortiz and Garnett compared jewelry? Their proclivity to diamond earrings makes me think their combined holdings may rival the crown jewels of the United Kingdom.
Neither team pitched a gem, practically a given with the terrible Ts Julian Tavarez and Steve Trachsel taking the mound.
And yet Trachsel outlasted Tavarez by an inning and held the Red Sox to a single run. It took the impuissance of relief trio Paul Shuey, John Parrish, and Chad Bradford to give Boston the victory.
Southpaw Parrish was brought in to face Ortiz, who lately has been showing signs of success against lefties. With two on and none out Ortiz clanged a double off the wall for one run.
Usually Ortiz’s bat means lights out for the opposition, but last night his swing was like the flick of a switch to turn on the rest of his own team.
Manny Ramirez was intentionally walked to set up Kevin Youkilis against Bradford, and again conventional baseball strategy failed Dave Trembley. Taking umbrage at being seen as less of a threat than Ramirez, Youkilis rocketed a two-run double into center for the lead.
Jason Varitek drove in an essential insurance run with a gutshot single and Ramirez, who traversed home for the additional run, stood attentively in the box to guide the runner behind him if the need arose.
Hideki Okajima relinquished a solo shot to Miguel Tejada in the eighth. Although the run pushed his ERA to 1.03, it did not cost the game. Jonathan Papelbon shored up the team with a dominating ninth, striking out the final two batters who dared enter the box.
