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| Game 62: June 4, 2008 | |||
| Rays | 1 | L: Edwin Jackson (3-5) | 35-24, 2 game losing streak |
 Red Sox |
5 | W: Josh Beckett (6-4) H: Manny Delcarmen (8) |
37-25, 2 game winning streak |
| Highlights: On the strength of the quality start by Beckett, the sterling performances by Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Craig Hansen, and the consistent hitting up and down the lineup, the Red Sox reassumed their rightful place as leader in the AL East last night. | |||
It should have been 6-1 as Dustin Pedroia was swindled of a home run in the first inning. NESN’s replay from the camera on the left field façade showed Pedroia’s ball slip behind Pesky’s Pole for a four-bagger, but Paul Emmel, Jeff Kellogg, Rob Drake, and Rob Fairchild convened and ruled the shot foul. Were they blinded by the incessant mist that shrouded Fenway last night?
Whatever the case, the quartet most likely decided incorrectly. With the recent brouhaha over missed calls, I have to side with the anti-Luddites. Why can’t there be a fifth official in the booth ready rule on fair or foul balls in relation to the poles, homers in areas where the ground rules or lines of sight are difficult to judge, and plays at the plate? Those are the only situations I would enact instant replay, and I believe Jerry Remy was an advocate for the same. The traditionalists have to come out from behind their transistor radios and bifocals to see that the technology exists to improve the game.
If the stalwarts had their way unceasingly, players wouldn’t be wearing gloves, mitts would be left out on the field throughout play, and the game wouldn’t have integrated racial minorities.
One conflict that might carry over into today is the aftermath of Coco Crisp’s hard slide into second on his steal in the eighth. When Rays manager Joe Maddon came out for a pitching change he exchanged words with the center fielder.
Thus the real AL East rivalry, Boston against Tampa Bay, heats up.
