Thursday, June 26, 2008

Kevin's Goin' Deep Tonight. Really.

If you had no idea how the Red Sox scored their last three runs last night, and I said to you that a player on the Sox blasted a three-run shot over the Green Monster and the ball landed in the parking lot across Lansdowne Street, who would you have guessed hit it? Manny Ramirez? Mike Lowell? J.D. Drew?

I would have guessed Dan Shaughnessy before the man who was the correct answer: Kevin Cash. Yep, he hit his first home run since June 21, 2005, a full three years ago. And it was no cheapie, either. He hit a slider from Juan Cruz that was in the same league with Manny and Big Papi's tape-measure shots. It appeared like it was just insurance, but the Sox needed it, as Craig Hansen struggled in the ninth, loading the bases. Jonathan Papelbon came on to get the final out and his 23rd save to preserve the 5-0 shutout win over the Snakes of Arizona.

Tim Wakefield was Tim Wakefield last night, as he had the knuckler dancing, allowing just 2 hits in 7 innings. Coco Crisp had three doubles, all three with Mike Lowell on first (and wound up on third all three times). Brandon Moss drove in Lowell twice to give the Red Sox their first two runs, and that's all Wakefield needed.

Wake faced Randy Johnson last night, and it was the oldest pitching matchup at Fenway (85 years) since 1965 when Bill Monbouquette (29) faced the immortal Satchel Paige (59).

And the news on David Ortiz is getting better, as he now estimates he will return in 2-3 weeks from the wrist injury. He took 25 swings off a tee yesterday and will be with the Red Sox on the coming road trip. Unfortunately, he won't be activated for the Yankees series, but it looks like a return by the All-Star break is still possible.

2 comments:

Steel36 said...

Yes but Kevin has no witty satirical stories written about him.

Suldog said...

Loved seeing Wake best Johnson. Subtlety wins!