Endoran [エンドラン]
| Game 87: July 2, 2008 | |||
| Red Sox | 6 | H: Hideki Okajima (15) BS, L: Craig Hansen (2, 1-3) |
50-37, 5 game losing streak |
 Rays |
7 | W: Gary Glover (1-2) S: Dan Wheeler (3) |
52-32, 4 game winning streak |
| Highlights: In Japanese baseball the term for the hit and run play sounds more like a football play: endoran, the Japanized way to say end run. The Red Sox ninth-inning rally was killed by a failed hit and run with Jason Varitek in the box and Mike Lowell at first. I question the wisdom of such a tactic with a player who can’t hit at the dish and a player who can’t run on base. | |||
With this loss the Red Sox equaled their longest losing streak of the season. The previous streak from April 23 to 27 also involved a series sweep by the Rays in St. Petersburg. That early in the season the Tampa Bay team was pshawed as a contender, but now that it is July the Rays appear to be the real deal.
Dustin Pedroia, like the Rays, had to prove naysayers that he could break into the majors. The petite infielder sustained his torrid pace going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Most intriguing was the order of his hits: home run in the first, triple in the third, double in the fifth, and another double in the eighth. He could have held up at first on his second double, but at the time his team trailed 7-5.
This season Pedroia is a shoo-in to make the All-Star team, in case his Rookie of the Year credentials from last year don’t pass muster with his doubters.
J.D. Drew was named AL Player of the Month for June. David Ortiz will likely take live batting practice next week. Mike Timlin will be activated for the Yankees series and Chris Smith will be optioned to Pawtucket. Red Sox first round pick Casey Kelly remains unsigned; I never trust people with two first names.
I’m tempted to replicate a dozen more Red Sox news links rather than relive the bottom of the seventh inning. As hard as it would be for me to write about it must be thousands of times worse for Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen. Both relievers faced three batters without tallying a single out.
Just as Boston played three games in Tropicana Field without garnering a single win.
