Defeatism
| Game 117: August 16, 2009 | |||
| Red Sox | 3 | L: Junichi Tazawa (1-2) | 66-51, 2 game losing streak |
 Rangers | 4 | W: Dustin Nippert (4-1) H: Doug Mathis (1) H: C.J. Wilson (10) S: Frank Francisco (17) | 66-50, 2 game winning streak |
| Highlights: A kid in the stands snared two Josh Hamilton foul balls in the fifth. The young fan was particularly thrilled with his catches because there was some whipped cream on the baseballs for some reason. | |||
Frank Viola’s style is like a pitching version of Sean Casey. When Alex Gonzalez sharply lined the ball foul down third base line in the eighth, Don Orsillo exclaimed, “Diving attempt by ball attendant!”
“Gotta love the hustle,” deadpanned Viola.
Like Jason Bay the game before, David Ortiz lofted a leadoff homer. Ortiz’s came in the second inning to give his team the lead. Exquisite to behold, but Ortiz had no one but the next batter to high five at home plate.
Inspired by the baserunning spectacular on Saturday, Ortiz tagged up on Casey Kotchman’s fly ball out to center and scored on Brian Anderson’s sacrifice fly to right in the fourth.
In the seventh, Dustin Pedroia smacked his 10th longball of the season. Another solo shot, another game that the Red Sox fell just short. Their playoff aspirations are receding like their second baseman’s hairline.
