Three-Hundredth
| Game 85: July 9, 2009 | |||
 Royals | 8 | W: Luke Hochevar (5-3) H: John Bale (7) H: Juan Cruz (6) S: Joakim Soria (14) | 37-48, 1 game winning streak |
| Red Sox | 6 | H: Manny Delcarmen (5) BS, L: Justin Masterson (1, 3-3) | 51-34, 2 game losing streak |
| Highlights: David Ortiz’s 300th homer skidded along the top of the wall and dropped back onto the field. Too bad a fan didn’t catch it, then we could explore the vagaries of human nature: would they attempt to negotiate a price or accept other memorabilia? Then again, with Jose Guillen’s questionable character, Ortiz probably had to hand over a few game-used bats and a signed jersey to get his home run ball. | |||
In his 12-year career, Jose Guillen has been on 10 teams. Mike Scioscia suspended Guillen and excluded him from the playoff roster in 2004 for “inappropriate conduct.” Not that the Red Sox need help against the Angels when it comes to the postseason, but the suspension made it even easier for Boston in the ALDS. Guillen’s name surfaced in the Mitchell Report and is an associate of Angel Presinal, who is banned from major league clubhouses.
If the Red Sox fall short of winning the division by one game, remember this night. Remember how a team with a losing record rallied twice to surge ahead of the local nine.
Remember how Brad Penny surrendered sequential singles to start the fourth, how Miguel Olivo and Alberto Callaspo drove in runs, and how another run scored on Jason Varitek’s errant throw to second.
Remember how the Red Sox as a team left six on base.
Remember that the bullpen, though solid, is not infallible.
What was most frustrating was that a such a winnable game was lost. Dustin Pedroia was 3-for-5 and launched a homer in the fifth, Daniel Bard pitched 1⅓ perfect innings and struck out three, but other key players fell short in pivotal situations.
David Ortiz was in tune with the the Fenway crowd: he stepped out of the box in the top of the eighth so that they could complete “Sweet Caroline” a cappella. Usually when Papi or Kevin Youkilis lead off the eighth cheers for them drown out the refrain of “so good.”
The pairing of Dennis Eckersley and Don Orsillo provided more comedic gold. A signed proclaimed that someone’s grandmother thinks Don Orsillo is cute. “That’s very flattering,” stated Orsillo.
“That’s how good you’re going,” replied Eckersley. In the bottom half of the fourth Eck went on to ruin the Aflac trivia question. Not that anyone wouldn’t know that Bo Jackson was the last Royal to get the most All-Star votes.
Bo knows hardball.
