Buchhing the Trend
Along with the rain, Clay Buchholz’s eight-inning performance washed away the bitterness of the series split in the Bronx. The Red Sox starter methodically dismantled one of the best offenses in the American League:
- Second in OBP: .356
- Second in batting average: .274
- Fourth in slugging: .426
- Tied for first with the Yankees in walks: 169
- But just seventh in homers with 38
To lead off the fourth Denard Span checked his swing and got enough wood on the ball so that it jotted down the third base line, kissed the corner of the left field stands, and skipped down the left field down for an improbable double. Joe Mauer humpbacked a double to right to notch a fluke run for the visitors.
David Ortiz responded with a two-run homer in the fourth that would have remained an RBI triple were it not for instant replay review by the umpires. The umpire crew seemed loathe to initiate a review until the crowd chanted “home run” and Terry Francona made his case. The review took a surprisingly long time; they could have gone to Jerry Remy’s for a Remy Burger in the amount of time they were off the field.
Bill Hall tacked on an insurance run in the sixth; his ground ball single to left was the third single in the row surrendered by Scott Baker. This run proved the difference as Daniel Bard gave up a run to Joe Mauer in the ninth when the catcher plated Span on a ground out to first. Well played, Mauer.
From the “baseball is just a business” department, Scott Schoeneweis was designated for assignment the day before the anniversary of his wife's death. I love this game and this team, but I’d rather drop five games in a row than see such shoddy treatment of a person.
| Game 41: May 19, 2010 | ||
| Twins 24-16 | 2 | L: Scott Baker (4-4) |
| 2B: Denard Span (7), Joe Mauer (11) | ||
 Red Sox21-20 | 3 | W: Clay Buchholz (5-3) S: Daniel Bard (1) |
| HR: David Ortiz (8) | ||
