Justin Time to Party Marte
I likened this Red Sox team to a rescued puppy in my last column. Now, imagine bringing home that puppy after he so carelessly captured your heart and finding out a few days later that you had to put him down because he had a congenital defect that would only bring him pain and suffering if he grew out of puppyhood.
In effect that is what Kevin Youkilis’s thumb injury did. His season-ending hand surgery is an insurmountable setback for the Red Sox.
With the loss of this game Boston fell 6½ games behind the Rays and the Yankees, who were tied with an identical record of 67-40. Their ever-diminishing postseason chances hinge upon Mike Lowell and possibly Carlos Delgado. Delgado was born in 1972, the same year as the newly-minted Celtic center Shaquille O’Neal.
What next, is Brett Favre going to take snaps from Dan Koppen?
Two former Red Sox players had their way against Boston. Justin Masterson lasted only 5 innings and surrendered a homer to David Ortiz while striking out 3 and walking 4. Andy Marte lofted a three-run shot into the Monster seats to put the game well out of reach in the seventh.
A face one may have forgotten, Jacoby Ellsbury, started for the first time since April. He was an unimpressive 0-for-5. When Youkilis goes under the knife Ellsbury will miss their thumb-wrestling matches.
Jon Lester was out of sorts: 5 innings pitched, 7 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He might have been distracted by the birth of his baby boy. At least this time he went to the hospital for a joyful event.
| Game 108: August 4, 2010 | ||
 Indians46-62 | 9 | W: Justin Masterson (4-10) H: Tony Sipp (11), Joe Smith (11) |
| 2B: Shelley Duncan (7) HR: Jayson Nix (8), Andy Marte (4) | ||
| Red Sox 61-47 | 1 | L: Jon Lester (11-7) |
| 2B: Victor Martinez (24), Kevin Cash (2), Adrian Beltre (31) HR: David Ortiz (23) | ||
