August 18, 2001
I say this a lot when I look back at old scorecards. Even
with the collection of misfits this year, we don’t know how lucky we have it.
This card is from the end of the 2001 season. A season in which they would
finish second in the division…but still be 13.5 games back. A lost year.
To be fair, the line-up isn’t terrible. There are some
recent all-stars floating around in there. But, the rest of it just isn’t
enough. Although, it was in this game.
It was really one big inning that took the day for the Sox.
They piled it on in the sixth, allowing them to win easily. Unfortunately, by
then it was too late for Casey Fossum to see any benefit. He didn’t make it
through the fifth, after loading the bases with two outs. Although I didn’t
mark it down, I assume the win went to Garces because of his scoreless inning
plus. Not to mention putting out the fire in the fifth.
The hero of the game for the Sox? Easily Mike Lansing. His
four RBI were the difference. Especially his huge three-run home run in the
sixth. It sealed the game for the Sox. The goat? Let’s go with Jose Offerman.
While he wasn’t the only player to go hitless on the day, he did it from the
lead-off spot. That’s not what you’re looking for.
In the end, it didn’t matter. The Sox prevailed thanks to
some timely hitting, and help from the bullpen.
And the scorecard shows how it happened.
I went to this game too! I'm almost embarrassed to post the link to my write-up, because I extoll the virtues of Joe Kerrigan as a manager, LOL. (But it was only 2 days into his tenure, so I guess he's allowed a honeymoon.)
ReplyDeleteOfferman, Lansing, Bichette, oh my!
Honeymoon period is right!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I look at the old scorecards, the line-up amazes me.