Things started looking up after an unspeakably ridiculous commute to the game (13 miles=1:45) when I noticed that we were sitting in Section 43, Row 7. "Section 43" being the title of one of the absolute masterpieces of psychedelia (Country Joe & the Fish for those of you keeping score at home) and Row 7 meaning that I would be close enough, if so inclined, to spit in Billy Wagner's eye, well, things couldn't get much better. Hell - Schilling and Glavine were facing off.
After 5 innings of great pitching, Schilling surrendered a two run dinger to Beltran, giving the Mets
a 2-0 lead. Thinking that things nowlooked pretty bleak based on Glavine's strong performance thus far, the hometown nine came back strong with a rare Loretta HR and another run scored. 2-2 after six.
After Schilling blanked them in the seventh, Crisp led off with a beautiful bunt, gaining second on a subsequent steal. A-Gon next at the plate also bunts and Crisp is at 3rd with only one out. Youkilis poked a sac. fly to left and we left the inning with a 3-2 lead after seven. Great baseball here: If someone can cite me an example of back to back successful bunts yielding a man at 3rd with one out, i'd like to hear about it.
The Mets plated the 8th against Timlin. With 2 outs, Beltran lined a base hit. Next up, David Wright launched a shot to center that was certainly a run-scoring gap shot. All of the sudden, Coco leaps, lunges, and stabs the tailing bullet, impossibly keeping it in his glove. Friends, this was the single most amazing defensive play I have ever witnessed - that is not hyperbole. (I watched the replay on TV when I got home and proudly maintain that statement.) That would have almost certainly tied the game, so it's timliness ("Timlin"ess?)and importance are clear. After an almost anti-climactic insurance bomb from Ortiz in the bottom of the frame, we lead 4-2. That would be the final score.
What started out as a taut if slightly uncompelling pitching duel (in the noisy beer-soaked bleachers anyway) ended up becoming one of the most exciting games I have ever seen, and that Crisp catch should be watched over and over. (Johnny who?)
Postscript: With the whole ballpark staying to the very end, leaving was a crowded mess. Meg and I decided to grab a beer at a joint called "Bukowski's" (great name) to wait for the traffic to abate. We walked in and playing on the sound system was Jeff Beck's masterpice "Truth" - in it's entirety! It neatly wrapped up one of the greatest Fenway evenings - out of dozens - i've ever had.
Tom, do you now wish you took that ticket I offered you?
12:55 AM
5 comments:
Nobody offered me a ticket!
Excellent recap, AA. Yeah, that catch is up there with the Edmonds one you see replayed all the time. And the fundamentalness of this team is making me all wet. Gotta love it.
Your such an estrogen munch Zeb, but I've got to agree with you. I like the fact they can play the small ball when they need to. Another great example last night, they were having problems getting anything going so they manufactured a run. This would frustrate me to no end in recent years, the bats were cold and they'd just keep hackin' away up there. Granted we do have the tools now and that helps makes the choice more obvious.
I wish I had gone that's for sure. I watched the last 2 innings off and on. I didn't see Coco's "Crisp" catch in real time but the replay shows him seemingly double stretching in mid-air like swimmers do at the gun. Unreal catch; not just direct to the ball, but on angle traveling away from home.!! The Sox Rock, the NL Sucks!!! 4 up on the Spankmes!!!! If they can hold that margin until the break.... wow
I posted this when AA was having issues posting....
AA-Hole you've earned your nick name this time.....gloating SOB!!! Yes I'm jealous....one of the best games of the year and I miss most of it due to bowling!!! I got bits and pieces of it, one great stat on Schilling for that game, at the start of the 5th he had thrown only 39 pitches!
I added this cartoon for a little flavor. It wouldn't fit on the right.
Let me know if you guys want it outta here?
Post a Comment