On the same day Boston had an MLB high six players named to the All Star team, the Red Sox were nine outs away from an embarrassing sweep at home against the surging Seattle Mariners.
And then, in keeping with the theme of the last week, Boston mounted a furious comeback, one that elevated the feeling of fun and celebration both in the stands and in the dugout amidst the news that Tim Wakefield had been elected to the Midsummer’s Classic for the first time in his illustrious career.
Trailing 4-3 after six innings despite belting three home runs, the Bosox scored five times in the seventh, the big ‘blow’ a bases-loaded walk by Jacoby Ellsbury that broke a four-all tie, and Boston went on to win 8-4 and save an embarrassing sweep.
It would have been Boston’s first home sweep all season, but there was no way on this day the Sox would allow the Mariners to steal the thunder of the All Star announcements.
In other words, this one was for you, Timmy!
For the third time in the series, the Sox jumped out to an early lead, only to see the pesky M’s battle back and take an advantage. Unlike the first two games though, the Boston bullpen did not contribute to a late inning collapse.
First inning solo shots by Dustin Pedroia (3) and David Ortiz (9) gave Jon Lester a quick 2-0 lead, but the lefty let Seattle to jump right back in it, thanks to a trio of unearned runs in the fourth.
A sac fly made the score 4-2 in the fifth, but Lester (6.2IP, 8H, 4R, 1ER, 3BB, 9K, 122P) buckled down from there and held Seattle in check until the Boston offense could get to the Seattle bullpen.
And in the seventh, after an Ellsbury solo job cut the Ms lead to 4-3 in the sixth, that’s exactly what happened.
Miguel Batista issued a one out walk to J.D. Drew, which was followed by a single by Pedroia (3-5, 2R, BI). Ortiz, coming off a torrid June, then ran the count to 3-0 before slicing a single to right to score Drew and tie the game at four.
Mark Lowe relieved Batista and promptly walked Jason Bay and Ellsbury (1-2, 2R, 2BI) to force in the go-ahead run, and just for good measure, mark Kotsay forced a single through the infield to plate to more runs and, when the eighth run came in on a wild pitch, the Boston bullpen had all the cushion it would need to bring home the win.
The sweep averted, the Sox can now turn their attention to the arrival of the Oakland A’s on Monday and the return of onetime Sox and longtime lightning rod Nomar Garciaparra. It will be Nomaaah’s first appearance at Fenway since the fateful July ’04 trade that many feel spurred the Sox to reverse the curse and win it all that year.
Will there be more cheers or jeers for Garciapparra’s return? I’m betting on cheers.
But one thing’s for sure, I doubt his dreadful As will be going for a sweep on Wednesday.
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