Inches
| Game 99: July 19, 2008 | |||
| Red Sox | 2 | L: Josh Beckett (9-6) | 57-42, 2 game losing streak |
 Angels |
4 | W: Jose Arredondo (4-0) H: Scot Shields (20) S: Francisco Rodriguez (39) |
59-38, 4 game winning streak |
| Highlights: A disappointing loss as both the Rays and Yankees squeaked out wins. | |||
It also showed that Mike Scioscia’s National League Lite management style can deliver a win here and there. Vladimir Guerrero homered to leadoff the seventh, and rather than wait for another moonshot as Earl Weaver would have, Scioscia had Reggie Willits sacrifice bunt.
The move, right out of Tony LaRussa’s textbook, came with two men on and none out. Terry Francona countered by having Josh Beckett intentionally walk Howie Kendrick so there would be a force at every station.
Erick Aybar pinch hit for catcher Jeff Mathis and sneaked a hit by Kevin Youkilis. If Youkilis played the line a bit closer, perhaps Aybar wouldn’t have been standing on third with three runs batted in under his belt.
If Jed Lowrie had played a few inches to his left, Torii Hunter may not have made it to first and been part of the three-run rally.
If Coco Crisp had not made a spectacular play on Casey Kotchman’s fly that would have cleared the wall that hems in the faux nature scene in center, the game may not have remained so tantalizingly within reach.
A game of ifs and inches, indeed.
The lack of inches on Dustin Pedroia’s height did not hinder him from having four multi-hit games in a row. Fellow homegrown product Youkilis homered for the second game in a row, but his two runs would be the only offense the Red Sox would muster.
Good thing the American League All-Stars overcame their National League brethren, for it seems this Boston team much prefers Fenway.
