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| Game 103: August 1, 2009 | |||
 Red Sox | 4 | W: Josh Beckett (13-4) | 61-42, 3 game winning streak |
| Orioles | 0 | L: David Hernandez (3-3) | 44-59, 2 game losing streak |
| Highlights: Two weeks into my first office job after college I wrote a resignation letter, put it into my boss’s in-box and slunk out, stressed out and overwhelmed. Victor Martinez is made of sterner stuff. He struck out in his first at bat, chasing a high pitch reminiscent of our other Red Sox catcher. The next two at bats he made contact: he led off the third by grounding out to the Brian Roberts and popped out to short to start the fifth. If I were Martinez I would be googling “resignation letter template.” | |||
Victor Martinez, an eight-year veteran, has never received a standing ovation from his fans in the opposition’s stadium. After a anxious at bats in front of 49,384 people, Martinez’s nerves seemed to settle. He reached down with his bat to drop a single into left, notching his first hit and RBI as a Red Sox player.
Don Orsillo took advantage of the situation to antagonize the newish guy, Dave Roberts. “I now know why you downplayed your first appearance in a Red Sox uniform,” said Orsillo with a smirk. “You were 0-for-5.”
Roberts flashed some personality at last and good-naturedly shot back, “I’m learning more and more about you everyday, and I don’t like it.” The former outfielder hasn’t taken to broadcasting as quickly as Martinez has taken to the Boston uniform, but he has made some progress. In this series Orsillo has made it a point to draw his colleague out.
You can never go wrong with mispronouncing an unusual name for comedic effect. “Mick-oh-low-ly,” intoned Roberts in the eighth in his attempt to talk about the Orioles’ fourth pitcher of the game.
“Close,” encouraged Orsillo. Rookie Kam Mickolio has yet to surrender a run in his 4⅔ innings of major league ball.
I had the impression that Josh Beckett pitched to the level of the Orioles. He didn’t have to pitch his hardest because he didn’t need to. If he did get into jams, he’d toy with the batters a bit and then induce a ground ball for a double play.
Hideki Okajima’s double play to close the eighth was flashier. With runners on first and second, Aubrey Huff’s at ’em ball was snared by Dustin Pedroia. Boston’s second baseman fell down catching the ball and he fell down again throwing it to Martinez to double Adam Jones off first.
As for that job I quit, my boss called me at home and talked me into coming back. I worked there for another two years. Perhaps Martinez will like Boston enough to do the same.
