Photo Credit: AP Photo/Elise Amendola
I was at the game last night and none of us were sure it would get played, let alone get completed. However, it was the Tigers and the only time they are coming to Fenway for a short 2 game series, so we knew that they HAD to try to get the game in.
At game time, the weather actually calmed down and we knew more rain was on the way, but the game started and Clay took the mound. He looked great. He was throwing his pitching for strikes and didn’t allow a hit until the 4th inning. Clay pitched 7 strong innings throwing 128 pitches (career high) ending his outing with striking out Inge with the bases loaded. I kept wondering and fearing that Tito was going to come out and get him and that the game would be won or lost by someone in the bullpen allowing his runs to score. He did hit two batters in that inning, so it seemed like his outing was nearing the point where it needed to end, but Clay battled through and left the mound not allowing a run to score. At that point, the score was 0-0 since Phil Coke was dealing as well…and it was pouring. I think probably the grounds crew and the umps were hoping and praying someone would score.
At the bottom of the 8th, Daniel Bard took the mound for about 2 seconds and then the game was called into a rain delay since the sky just opened up completely. I headed out from the bleachers and under cover. Happily, it was the shortest rain delay I have ever been a part of. The game started again about 30 minutes later and I found myself sitting right behind home plate. Thanks rain delay!
Bard pitched a nice 1-2-3 inning. Another advantage of the rain delay is that we got the dealing Phil Coke and his ridiculously low pitch count out of the game. In the bottom of the 8th, Schlereth took the mound with the Sox having 2 outs. Carl Crawford comes to the plate and works a walk. Tigers manager Jim Leyland comes to the mound, Schlereth thinks he is being removed from the game, but instead he just tells him not to let Crawford get in his head. Jarrod Saltalamacchia comes to the plate who has been mightly struggling at the plate. Salty doubles on a hit out in the gap in the outfield and with Crawford’s wheels…he was home for the 1-0 Sox lead.
Pap took the mound and had to face our old friend, Victor Martinez. (Side note…I miss him in a Red Sox uniform like crazy.) VMart reminded us how he can be a clutch hitter and smoked a double off Pap with no outs. However, Pap followed that with a ground out and then 2 clutch strikeouts to leave the runner stranded at 3rd. The Red Sox WIN!
And the hero was Jarrod Saltalamacchia for not only getting the only RBI in the game, but also calling a great game with Clay on a foggy, rainy night.
RED SOX 1 TIGERS 0 BOXSCORE
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