Flirtatious Felix
On the same day Matt Cain turned the 22nd perfect game in major league history Felix Doubront came within 10 outs of a no-hitter. With two down in the sixth Jose Reyes found the left field seats and the eyesore in center field jolted into life.
Of the many ways to lose a no-hitter a home run might be least painful in a “pull off the bandage fast” sort of way. There are few things more agonizing than watching a slow dribbler wend its way to a infielder’s glove, feeling the tension of witnessing the subsequent toss, and holding your breath until the first baseman successfully coddles the ball for the out. But what can be more exhilarating than a catch like Gregor Blanco made in the seventh inning of Cain’s perfecto, a route into the warning track ringing the right-center gap of AT&T Park’s vast outfield that ended in a dive and a ecstatic cheer.
David Ortiz has had his share of deep fly balls robbed by outfielders but in the fourth inning he sent the ball over the opposite field fences. Ortiz informed the clubbers in The Clevelander that there was a game going with this home run ball to the row of seats around the outside of the venue. Then again the Miami fans probably just thought someone spilled a drink.
In the eighth the NESN audience witnessed something more rare than a perfect game. No, not a Nick Punto home run but a Vicente Padilla smile. With the score 10-2 Bobby Valentine yanked Padilla after the reliever failed to get Brett Hayes out.
Padilla sat on bench with a wry grin, bewildered by Valentine’s decision. Red Sox fans have the same expression watching their team this season.
| Game 63: June 13, 2012 | ||
 Boston Red Sox31-32 |
10 |
W: Felix Doubront (7-3) |
| 2B: Nick Punto (3) HR: David Ortiz (15) | ||
| Miami Marlins 32-31 |
2 |
L: Ricky Nolasco (6-5) |
| 2B: Giancarlo Stanton (18) HR: Jose Reyes (2) | ||
