Triple Threat by Jared Carrabis
Sox go deep three times in post-deadline victory


On the most exciting day of the regular season, the Red Sox made some noise in the front office and just hours later, they made some noise with their bats.

Making the trip down to Fenway South, Red Sox starter John Smoltz had a lot to prove. Not only to himself and to his teammates, but to the fans that support the name on the front of his jersey. Making his seventh start for Boston on Friday night, Smoltz had not only failed to win more than one game, he hadn't turned in a single performance worthy of being filed under a quality start.

Unfortunately for the veteran pitcher, that streak would continue. Smoltz had completed six innings just once for the Sox and aimed to do so against the worst team in the AL East, which he did. The only problem was that over the course of those six frames, the Hall of Famer-to-be served up two long balls (almost three) and departed from the game after allowing five earned runs.

"I feel like it's a blessing I haven't gone crazy yet," said Smoltz. "Again, words can't describe how frustrated and angry I am. I'm professional enough to know that I will go to work and get this where those zeroes show up just about every time I go out there."

In support of Smoltz, the Sox bats helped save the right-hander from dropping to 1-6 on the season. In the top of the second inning, Nick Green skied a sacrifice fly to plate Boston's first run.

In the top of the third, it was David Ortiz, again, to the rescue. With a man on, Ortiz got the green light with a 3-0 count and cranked a 4-seam fastball into the seats in right-center field.

I'm feeling good, man," said Ortiz. "I'm swinging the bat good. That's me, man. When I'm feeling it, I'm feeling it. That's how it goes."

It was a lead that Smoltz would relinquish in the bottom half after allowing a two-run shot to Nolan Reimold.

Two frames later, Jacoby Ellsbury would break a 3-3 tie by belting his sixth home run of the season for a solo shot to right. It was a lead short-lived, as Smoltz allowed a two-run bomb to Aubrey Huff in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Ellsbury singled as one of his three hits to put a man on first. On the night, Ellsbury remained to stay red-hot by going 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, a stolen base and an RBI. Later in the inning, Kevin Youkilis belted his eighteenth home run of the season to put Boston on top 6-5.

But, getting back to Ellsbury, the Boston center fielder made a spectacular play in the bottom of the sixth, robbing Luke Scott of what would have been a solo home run. The play made SportsCenter's top 10 plays as number one, and certainly saved the game for the Sox. More or less, this night belonged to Ellsbury.

"I told him it's the best catch I've seen in a very, very long time," Smoltz said. "Obviously we can look back and say that was the game-winner."

Ramon Ramirez and Hideki Okajima turned in a pair of no-hit innings to build the bridge to Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth. Once this contest got to the bottom of the ninth, Sox fans were treated to their second big surprise of the day after receiving Victor Martinez at the trade deadline, as Papelbon turned in a perfect 1-2-3 inning to record his 27th save of the season.

Final Score: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5

Things you'll need to know to impress your friends:

David Ortiz has now homered in both games since getting word of his name appearing on a 2003 positive performance enhancing drug test. His two-run shot on Friday night gave him 15 on the year. At this time last year, Ortiz had 17 home runs. Take into consideration that Ortiz missed significant time in 2008 with a wrist injury, the lefty slugger might as well have been on the DL the first two months of the season he was swinging the bat. Point: I think it's safe to say that he has revived his once miserable season. If you take a peak at his .231 batting average, it might not impress you, but give the man some credit. He's raised his average 46 points since it once sat as low as .185 on May 29-30.

Tommy Harper holds the Red Sox single season record for most steals in a single season with 54 in 1973. Through 94 games in 2009, Jacoby Ellsbury was swiped 47 bags and trails Harper's record by seven bags. With his next stolen base, Ellsbury will move into a three-way tie with Billy Werber and Tommy Harper himself for seventh most steals in Red Sox history with 107. If Ellsbury remains in Boston throughout the prime of his career, he has a shot to eclipse the Red Sox record of an even 300 steals set by the legendary Harry Hooper, who spent 12 seasons in Boston (1909-1920). Hooper's career high was 40 stolen bases in 1910. If Ellsbury remains consistent, he will blow past Hooper with ease.

Saturday's pitching match-up:

In the middle game of this series, Josh Beckett will get the ball. With a win in his last outing, the right-hander won his twelfth game of the season. Plagued by irritating injuries in 2008, Beckett had 12 wins all of the '08 campaign. In his career at Camden Yards, Beckett is 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA. His opponent, David Hernandez, has a 3-2 record with a highly respectable 3.20 ERA.

My input on the Victor Martinez acquisition:

I absolutely love this trade, and I'll tell you why. Martinez was signed as a 17-year-old and spent his entire career within the Indians' organization. We got our best look at him during the 2007 American League Championship Series, and what I saw from him goes beyond statistics. Not only is he a career .297 hitter in eight Major League seasons, not only is he a .313 hitter at Fenway Park with a .913 OPS, he is everything this organization wants in a player.

When the Red Sox defeated the Indians in Game 7 of the ALCS in 2007, tears came from his eyes. Why? Because he wants to win very badly. He had a personal handshake for every single player on the Tribe's roster. Why? Because the word "team" is of great importance to Victor Martinez. When Martinez got word that he had been traded to the Boston Red Sox, again, tears came from his eyes. Why? Because he is loyal. He's loyal to his teammates, he's loyal to his fans, and he's loyal to the organization that gave him a chance. He wanted to spend his entire career in a Cleveland Indians' uniform, but now that things have changed, Victor Martinez brings the will to win, team chemistry, leadership, loyalty and a booming bat with him to Boston, where he has a great chance to win that World Series that he has been longing for. That's why.

I'd also like to wish Justin Masterson the best of luck. He is a phenomenal talent and one of the most likeable guys in recent memory to ever enter the Red Sox clubhouse. The Tribe is very lucky to have a guy like Masterson walk through that clubhouse door on Saturday.

For SoxSpace's full coverage on the trade deadline, click HERE.

Editor's notes:

For all of the readers that have been patiently waiting the arrival of my book One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk, I have some good news. The book went to print on Friday! From here, there's a good chance that the book will be ready to hit the shelves in about three weeks or so. I will keep you all posted!

And last, I am going on my first vacation since the summer of 2006 this weekend. I'll be New Hampshire bound 'til Tuesday and most likely won't be able to get to a computer to post any game updates. If I can get access to a laptop, I'll blog on the road, and if not, I'll be texting updates to my Twitter account as much as possible. Have a great weekend everyone!

-Jared Carrabis

Follow me on Twitter by clicking HERE.



Published on August 01, 2009

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