Coming fresh out All-Star break, the Red Sox were met at Fenway Park by their division rivals, the New York Yankees, for a 4 game series. Game one started off with a bang as the Sox got to Mussina in the first inning with a few runs. However, Schilling proved to disappoint the crowd in is first return since April. He gave up two runs in the 9th, which would prove to be the difference. Game 2 was no contest, the Red Sox winning 17-1, evening the series at one game apiece. Game 3 on Saturday, the game I was fortunate enough to have tickets for, was lost by base running mishaps and fielding errors. Randy Johnson started the game for the Yankees and pitched well enough for a win. Matt Clement had only one bad inning where the Yankees got to him, putting up 6 game-changing runs. The Sox tried a comeback yet failed, ultimately loosing by three. However, one crucial bright side in the end was Schilling’s performance out of the bullpen. He came into the ninth and shut the Yankees down, allowing only one bass runner.
Game 4 proved to be a heart breaker. Skipping ahead to the ninth, the Red Sox found themselves 4 runs down. However, leadoff hitter of the inning, Manny Ramirez, cranked a solo shot to narrow the lead to three. A pair of walks and a base hit latter, the Sox found the bases loaded with no outs and the winning run at the plate in the form of the new Alex Cora. Cora quickly dimmed the hopes of a rally, grounding in to a double play. Damon, the next hitter, wasted mo time throwing away the game, grounding out on the first pitch.
Although this series proved very disappointing, there are some things less disappointing the Sox can take. Schilling appears ready for the rotation, yet I doubt Francona will send him there for a week or two. The Yankees ptching still looks incredibly bleak, and it will not hold them together in this homestretch to October. Damon extended his hitting streak to 29 games, which is one away from Nomar’s streak of 30, the second longest on the Red Sox. Other than that, not much went right. Therefore, the main brightside is that there’s always tomorrow, along with a good amount of games left against the Yankees. Not to mention, while its only by a thread, we are still hanging on to first place.
(NOTE: Damon's streak has since ended at 29 games)
Later that Night
On Saturday, after the game, Fenway park turned in to the stage for a charity concert, “Hot Stove, Cool Music”. All proceeds benefited “The Foundation to be Named Later”, a charity set up by Theo Epstien and his brother. The concert rocked and was cool to see in the setting of Fenway Park. Red Sox players Mike Timlin, Tim Wakefield, and Bronson Arroyo joined Peter Gammons and Epstien on stage as the more random performers. Real bands to rock the stage included Juliana Hatfield, The Gentlemen, Buffalo Tom, Fountains of Wayne, and a few others. Arroyo performed several covers with just him on the acoustic and singing. To raise additional money for charity, several items were put on auction. Wakefield’s cleats brought in $3,000, 4 seats with Theo brought in $16,000, and Peter Gammons pink shirt bough in $600. Other items were auctioned as well. In the end, it was reported that the event raised over $250,000 for charity. If they hold this event at Fenway again, and I’m sure they will, I strongly suggest anyone nearby to by a ticket for a good concert for a good cause.
-Written by Mike |
