With the game last night between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels lasting four hours and seven minutes, you would have thought that the New York Yankees were in town. Obviously they weren’t but we did witness an October-like game at the Fens.
Mistakes were plentiful in this one by both sides. And as good teams do, they take advantage of them like both teams did. But in the end, it was a blown call by home plate umpire Rick Reed that may have helped the Red Sox to the win.
I’m not taking anything away from Alex Gonzalez by any means. But realistically, there’s no reason he should have even been up.
Angels closer Brian Fuentes had a 3-2 count on pinch-hitter Nick Green with two outs in the bottom of the 9th and the bases full of Red Sox. He threw a knee-high fastball in the middle of the plate that Green watched into Mike Napoli’s glove. Both Napoli and Fuentes thought they had strike three. Angels manager Mike Scioscia thought the game was over.
Instead, it was ball four that brought in pinch-runner Joey Gathright with the game-tying run. Gonzo’s bloop hit fell in front of Juan Rivera in left field, who made absolutely no effort to the ball and that set off the celebration at Fenway Park.
Now remember one thing folks, the Red Sox didn’t get Gonzo for his bat. They brought him in to shore up the hole at shortstop. Since coming to the Red Sox from the Cincinnati Reds, Gonzo has made one error. But what he’s brought to the plate in clutch situations is priceless. Time and time again when the Red Sox have needed a big hit, he’s come through with that big clutch hit.
That begs the question, why did Theo Epstein ever let this guy go after the 2006 season? The Red Sox hold a $6 million option on Gonzalez for 2010 with a $500K buyout. They’d be stupid to let him go since ever since he wasn’t re-signed, the Red Sox have had a big gaping hole at shortstop.
Jed Lowrie’s good enough to be the shortstop but he doesn’t bring what Gonzalez brings to the position. Plus I think Lowrie is better suited for the utility infield position for the time being.
It will be interesting to see what transpires after this season but one thing’s for certain, we don’t have to worry about the shortstop position on the defensive side of the ball. We also don’t have to fret about him getting the big hit unlike a certain Captain of the Red Sox.
And on another note, the Texas Rangers lost last night to give the Red Sox a 6.5 game lead in the wild card standings. The New York Yankees won so the Red Sox remain 6.5 games back in the AL East.
Sox win while Angels steam [Amy K. Nelson – ESPN Boston]
Prayers answered [Boston Globe]
Things are falling into place [Boston Globe]
Angels point plenty of fingers [Boston Globe]
Strong feeling that Wakefield will go Monday [Boston Globe]
Safe at home [Boston Globe]
Hobbled Green stands and delivers [Clubhouse Insider]
Red Sox Rally Past Angels, 9-8 [Hartford Courant]
Hobbled Wakefield Determined To Come Back [Hartford Courant]
Big Moment For Lowrie [Hartford Courant]
Some things that happened tonight [Extra Bases]
In Hunter, Ortiz has a true fan and friend [Full Count]
Green battled through ‘dead leg’ [Full Count]
Angels react to controversial loss [Full Count]
Wow [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Angels’ Fuentes suggests the Fenway fans intimidate umps [Projo Sox Blog]
Sox revel in wild ending to wild night [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Wakefield, Sox brass hold closed-door meeting [Providence Journal]
Shortstops go a long way in helping Sox overtake Angels [Providence Journal]
Red Sox-Angels match up: A prequel for AL Division Series? [Providence Journal]
In bad sign for underdogs, baseball’s richest teams suddenly seem a lot less stupid [Providence Journal]
Five Things We Learned Wednesday Night: The Sox Still Own the Angels [Joe Haggerty – WEEI.com]
In the End, Green Did Have a Leg To Stand On [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Angels miffed in aftermath [Pedro Gomez – ESPN Boston]
Sox focused on journey, not destination [RedSox.com]
Give it up to Red Sox [Boston Herald]
A Hunter? Or hunted? [Boston Herald]
Jonathan Papelbon takes a night off [Boston Herald]
Alex Gonzalez’ glove a big boost [Boston Herald]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the LA Times, Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites.
