Feature
| Game 137: September 1, 2008 | |||
| Orioles |
4 | L: Garrett Olson (8-7) | 63-74, 4 game losing streak |
 Red Sox |
7 | W: Paul Byrd (10-11) H: Javier Lopez (10) S: Jonathan Papelbon (35) |
80-57, 1 game winning streak |
| Highlights: Dear old friend Tim Tschida was the home plate umpire for this game. He didn’t have to use his judgment much as Boston batters made solid contact on Olson’s offerings (Jason Varitek and Jeff Bailey in particular; they homered back-to-back in the second). Byrd’s pitches don’t meander far from the black out off Byrd’s hand, but they do tend to get tagged when hitters do make contact. A trio of Orioles, Adam Jones, Juan Castro, and Kevin Millar, launched the balls into the Monster seats. | |||
Flashbulb flash takes up entire screen.
DON LaFONTAINE: In a world mired in scandal....
After the flashbulb pops, cut to close-up of PAUL BYRD in Cleveland Indians locker room fielding questions, many microphones arrayed before him.
CAPTION: October 22, 2007
FEMALE REPORTER: Paul, you claim you were taking HGH under a doctor’s care due to a medical condition. Do you think that in addition to the medical effects it may have improved your performance?
BYRD: Take a look at my stats. It’s not like I had a tremendous surge in strikeouts or innings pitched. I honestly believe taking those hormones didn’t impact my pitching.
MALE REPORTER: Nevertheless, you did turn 36 and pitched 13 more innings than you did a year prior
BYRD (looking exasperated): I’ve provided the name and contact information of my physician. He can attest to everything I’ve stated about my pituitary tumor and the required course of treatment. I am not a cheater.
FADE OUT
FADE IN EXT FENWAY PARK NIGHT
CAPTION: September 1, 2008
LaFONTAINE: One man... takes his fate into his own hands... and finds redemption.
Opening strings from Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” are heard. Montage of Byrd on the mound in a Red Sox uniform in various emotional states: Sixth inning near-miss by Nick Markakis’s liner. Crestfallen at Kevin Milar’s seventh inning solo shot. Seventh inning snare of Jay Payton’s come-backer. Quietly confident when striking out Millar in the fifth. Intersplice with sequences of his unusual wind-up from various angles.
LaFONTAINE: This fall, experience the ride of a lifetime as the Red Sox take you through the joys, the pains, and the triumphs of baseball’s postseason.
FADE OUT to title card for Still, We Believed (Again).
