Pinch
| Game 139: September 9, 2009 | |||
| Orioles | 5 | H: Alberto Castillo (2) BS, L: Matt Albers (3, 2-5) | 56-83, 2 game losing streak |
 Red Sox | 7 | BS: Manny Delcarmen (3) W: Billy Wagner (1-0) H: Daniel Bard (10) S: Jonathan Papelbon | 81-58, 2 game winning streak |
| Highlights: With the evolution of Bard from a wet behind the ears reliever deployed in low-leverage situations to a bona fide fireballer tapped to notch crucial outs, Delcarmen has been supplanted. The sixth inning is Exhibit A in the case that something is amiss with the Pride of Hyde Park. Matt Wieters led off and smacked the hardest hit ball of the inning. | |||
Manny Delcarmen rebounded with a strikeout of Luke Scott but seemed to be thrown off his game when he misplayed Ty Wigginton’s wonky nubber. Cesar Izturis’s squibber found his counterpart’s glove but Alex Gonzalez lost the footrace to third to Matt Wieters. With the bases loaded Delcarmen threw four pitches to walk Brian Roberts and push over the tying run.
While it was Ramon Ramirez who surrendered a hit to Felix Pie for the go-ahead run, the quartet of non-strikes orchestrated by Delcarmen was unforgivable given the game situation.
While the acquisition of Joey Gathright seemed a footnote in the tome retelling the trades of 2009, the bottom of the sixth highlighted why you should pay attention to the fine print. Terry Francona Sciosciaed Gathright around the bases to tie the game. Perhaps Gathright will play the role of Dave Roberts in the upcoming postseason.
Dustin Pedroia not only knocked in the run but gave Matt Albers a knock; the pitcher’s shin must surely sport a shiner thanks to the second baseman’s rocket.
Did Victor Martinez text Francona again to cajole his way into the starting lineup? The last time the backstop did so Francona told him he wasn’t going to start but promised to pinch hit him so he could tally the winning run. With the bases loaded, one out, and the score knotted 4-4, Martinez’s first swing off the bench carried the ball to the left-center gap to clear the bases.
In the pregame show Tom Caron narrated a short clip of Martinez with his wee son wearing Red Sox home whites. Jim Rice replied, “That’s not Dustin?”
