The Leach clan descended on Columbus, OH, yesterday for the fifth game in a rare six-game series between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Columbus Clippers. Red Sox Nation was out in full force, too, creating most of the noise in aging Cooper Stadium.
Dustin Pedroia got it started early for the Sox, cranking a 3-run homer in the top of the first inning. Who's not excited to have this guy in the system? He's a real scrapper--a little ball of hate out there creating havoc for the opposition. His 3-run bomb to left got the Sox crowd on their feet and really set the tone for the rest of the game.
Veteran catcher Ken Huckaby chipped in with a timely base knock that plated two, and Adam Stern had three hits and made a couple sparkling defensive plays in right. Left-fielder Willie Harris was picked off while standing in the on-deck circle, if you can believe that. And the hit and run wasn't even on.
Seriously, there's something about that guy rubs me the wrong way. I think he thinks he's better than he really is. I've never liked guys like that, not even in Little League. Anyway, I was surprised to see him out there. I thought he said he wouldn't accept the assignment if he were sent down. (Shoulder shrug.)
My homeboy Barry Hertzler (East Providence, RI) worked two scoreless innings and Javier Lopez picked up the save, working the final two innings to secure the 6-4 victory for Scott Shoemaker and the Sox.
All in all, it was a great day of baseball in Columbus.
I wish I could say the same about the happenings in Seattle. That inside-the-park homerun was one of the worst plays I've seen all season. Coco looked like my 15-year-old, semi-blind dog out there--snapping in vain to catch a tossed biscuit. And how devastating to have Varitek homer it in the top-half of the 9th only to lose it in the bottom-half ...
Oakland here we come. Angry.