Papi was 3-4 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
This game was a good metaphor for the season as a whole.
The starter looks unhittable the first few times through the order, then falls apart. The offense is strong, but the pitching falters (sometimes it’s the other way around). Certain individuals shine, but the team is inconsistent. Stretches of great baseball – and hope – followed by incompetence.
Wade Miley started the game strong, cruising through the first four innings, allowing only one man to reach second base and striking out 5. In the meantime, the Red Sox plated two runs on a Travis Shaw sacrifice fly and a Rusney Castillo fielder’s choice.
Then in the bottom of the 5th Miley gives up a two-run tater, to Connecitcut native Rajai Davis of all people, to tie the game at two. It was only Davis’ 3rd homer of the year.
In the top of the 6th Big Papi, who has been absolutely raking in the 2nd half and had a monster game, launched a solo home run to right, once again giving the Red Sox the lead.
In the bottom of the 6th, Miley would give up a single, a double, a single, a wild pitch, and another double, allowing the Tigers to jump right back on top 5-3.
HOWEVA. The Red Sox came roaring right back, plating three of their own in the top of the seventh, two of which came on a David Ortiz single, bringing the score to 6-5 good guys. It was at this moment that I briefly allowed my mind to wander.
The Red Sox are playing pretty well. You know, they’re only 10.5 games out of the Wild Card. If they keep getting decent starting pitching, and one of the young starters really steps up … Mookie should be back soon, and Pedroia can’t be far from returning … Shaw should finally be able to give them decent production from first … Man I’m still gonna miss Mike Napoli … the only thing standing between this team and a playoff spot (besides every other team in the American League) is the bullpen … Koji seems to be fine, and Robbie Ross Jr. was good yesterday, and Ogando had that one good outing that one time, and Tazawa is the man! Look two quick outs. And a single to Kinsler big deal …
And a two-run homer to Victor Martinez, and I was back to reality. Not just about the bullpen, but the entire train of thought reversed course and pulled back into the station. I then started writing the obituary for the 2015 season, but I think it’s still too early for that. I’m not harboring any delusional thoughts about a long post-season run, but there’s still a lot of baseball left to be played, and who knows what will happen.
Baseball is great because the draft is such a crapshoot, and the rewards of drafting well are so delayed, that rooting for the Red Sox to tank for a better draft pick doesn’t really happen. You, as a fan, can watch all the games and be genuinely happy each time the Red Sox win. There are a lot of talented players on this team and a lot of intriguing storylines to follow. Who knows, maybe after De Aza is shipped to a contender for cash or a PTBNL Jackie Bradley Jr. will hit .350 the rest of the way, Castillo will keep hitting, Sandoval will volunteer to play first, Hanley will move to 3rd, Owens and Johnson have sub-3 ERAs, and all of the sudden our entire lineup and 4/5 of the rotation is set for 2016.
Notes:
-Papi was 3-4 with a double, a homer, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored and a truly professional walk in the top of the 9th that allowed the winning run to come to the plate. He’s now only 11 longballs shy of 500 for his career.
-The Blue Jays beat the Yankees again, and are now only 2.5 games out of first.