2B or Not 2B
Dustin Pedroia’s absence from this game was a harbinger of his return to the disabled list. His stint with the team was as short as he was. In the two games he played he experienced pain that wouldn’t subside, so he went back on the disabled list rather than worsen the injury that obviously hadn’t fully healed.
He joins an entire cadre of wounded: Hideki Okajima, Junichi Tazawa, Kevin Cash, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Cameron, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Eric Patterson. That’s one-third of a bullpen and a good part of a batting lineup, if I charitably identify Cash as a major league batter.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out that Josh Beckett has been playing injured, or perhaps he doesn’t have his endurance back. He stifled the Angels for five innings but imploded spectacularly in the sixth to the tune of four runs. In the seventh the Blue Jays poured it on for three more runs, not just off Beckett but also Manny Delcarmen.
The offensive highlights for the local nine were few and far between. David Ortiz homered in the fourth for the early lead and Adrian Beltre tagged on a sacrifice fly to plate Marco Scutaro in the eighth. The most rousing Red Sox play came on the defensive side of the ball.
In the top of the third Mike Lowell pounced on Bobby Abreu’s sharply rapped grounder before it skidded into right field. The spry veteran flipped to Beckett for the second out. Not to be outdone, J.D. Drew made an amazing grab of Maicer Izturis’s fly ball, sliding head first on the verdant turf towards the warning track. It’s rare to see grass stains on Drew’s uniform, not because he doesn’t try hard, but because he doesn’t have to.
A disappointing loss, but one who was lost now is found. Wally made his return to the booth for the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon.
| Game 122: August 19, 2010 | ||
 Angels61-61 | 7 | W: Erwin Santana (13-8) |
| 2B: Maicer Izturis (13), Alberto Callaspo (22), Torii Hunter (28) HR: Hideki Matsui (16) | ||
| Red Sox 69-53 | 2 | L: Josh Beckett (3-3) |
| 2B: Jed Lowrie (7) HR: David Ortiz (27) | ||
