Twist the Sinews of Thy Heart
Window pane plaid did not become Tom Caron, but fortunately the Jim Rice-like threads did not come with Rice’s lesser broadcasting talents. Caron hosted the Barrington Marlins for NESN’s Little League Sunday and he asked Jerry Remy if he had any advice for the kids. Remy quipped that the major league Marlins don’t pay much so try not to play for them.
John Lackey didn’t lack for heart but fell short in execution. To save the bullpen he pitched for a season-high 123 pitches in a losing effort. Over 7 innings Lackey allowed 9 hits, 5 earned runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He surrendered only one extra base hit, but it was to light-hitting shortstop Ramon Santiago for a two-run homer. It was Santiago’s first circuit clout of 2010.
Boston’s offense never quite clicked. Jonathan Van Every and Jeremy Hermida paired up for doubles in the third to plate a run, but it was the only run the visitors scored. The Red Sox were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Remy remarked that the Red Sox came out a little flat. I think it’s because the heart (and mouth) of the team, Dustin Pedroia, was out of the lineup due to a tweaked knee. The second baseman injured it attempting to avoid Gerald Laird’s tag a home in the middle game of the series.
The heart of the Celtics was challenged when they faced off against the Orlando Magic in the first game of the Eastern Conference finals. The Magic might be their stoutest challengers in the playoffs thus far. While the Cavaliers were a superstar-centric team the Magic is (are?) a more well-rounded squad. However, where Cleveland fans have a modicum of dignity Orlando fans have only bluster. The Floridians were armed with noise-making paddles, the woeful successors to Thunderstix.
In the din of Amway Arena, the Magic battled back from a double-digit deficit and cut it to a basket in the fourth quarter. The three highest scorers for the Celtics were Ray Allen (25), Paul Pierce (22), and Rasheed Wallace (13 off the bench). Rajon Rondo tallied eight assists while his counterpart Jameer Nelson had only two. In fact, no Magic player had more than two assists; the total for their team was 10 while the Celtics had 21. It was the extra pass and the extra heart that helped the Celtrics prevail in hostile territory, 92-88.
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
| Game 38: May 16, 2010 | ||
| Red Sox 19-19 | 1 | L: John Lackey (4-2) |
| 2B: Jonathan Van Every (1), Jeremy Hermida (5) | ||
 Tigers22-16 | 5 | W: Armando Galarraga (1-0) H: Jeremy Bonderman (1) |
| HR: Ramon Santiago (1) | ||
