Caption: From this point forward, bone-headed decisions by third base coaches that send baserunners home to be thrown out by a country mile will be referred to as a “Bogar.” Wendell Kim is now off the hook.
Tonight’s game between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays was suspended by rain with the score tied, 1-1, after 8 1/2 innings. The game will be completed tomorrow night at 7:10 PM, prior to the start of the regularly-scheduled game between the clubs.
Of course, with rain forecast for all day tomorrow, it seems quite likley that the teams may not square off again until Sunday.
The only reason the game is not already finished is Red Sox third base coach Tim Bogar, who made a gaffe that a high school freshman has been advised against. Frankly, it was embarrassing for a major league coach to pull the kind of stunt Bogar did…especially one who is entrusted with responsibilities at third base.
With the score knotted at 1-1 in the sixth inning, RHP Grant Balfour relieved starter Wade Davis and immediately ran into trouble. 1B Kevin Youkilis walked and DH David Ortiz doubled down the right field line. Inexplicably, Bogar waved Youkilis home—this, in spite of the fact there was no one out, it was a tie game, and it was obviously going to be a bang-bang play at the plate. Youkilis was out easily.
Frankly, Red Sox Nation, it was a boneheaded move reminiscent of—dare I say it?—Wendell Kim!
Adrian Beltre then rocketed a ground ball to second baseman Reid Brignac for the second out of the inning… Ortiz advanced to third base on the play but was left stranded there when Jeremy Hermida whiffed. But had the infield been playing in—which it certainly would have had Youkilis been at third base—then Beltre’s grounder would have skittered into right field for a two-run double.
Instead, the game is tied at one apiece and the game will pick up where it left off when the teams next meet.
Both starting pitchers performed well despite a game-time temperature of 41 degrees. Josh Beckett allowed an unearned run on four hits—he issued one walk and recorded eight strikeouts. Davis gave up one earned run on two hits and four walks in five innings… he struck out four.
The Rays, off to the best start in club history at 6-3, took the lead with the help of two misplays in the third inning. Beckett retired the first two batters before Carl Crawford reached on an error by SS Marco Scutaro, who let the left fielder’s grounder get by him. Crawford then stole second base—it was his 28th consecutive successful attempt against the Red Sox.
Zobrist followed with a short bouncer to third base that Adrian Beltre appeared to misjudge or lose the in the lights. Zobrist was credited with a single. Crawford scored.
The Sox tied it on Jason Varitek’s fifth-inning solo home run into the Green Monster seats. Tek was playing in only his second game while starting catcher Victor Martinez rested.
Mike Cameron passed his kidney stone this morning at the hospital…the club said it is possible he will be available to play tomorrow. While no other information was forthcoming, and in consideration that the club has said Cameron could be available to play tomorrow, it seems likely he received medication or was treated with shock waves to assist in passing the stone.
After having an off-day yesterday, Jackie Robinson Day across MLB, all the Rays players wore uniforms with the No. 42 in honor of the former Brooklyn Dodger HOFer.
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