Eric Bedard needs a really big hug.
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by MegECass110
I made the executive decision to watch the Red Sox instead of the second half of the Patriots preseason game ( the first half was plenty entertaining for me). When I officially flipped over from ABC to NESN, it was the top of the eighth inning, with the Orioles ahead, 1-0. It seemed like this would be another one of those games where the Sox got a great pitching performance, but couldn't get any clutch hits. Dice-K and Eric Bedard had gone toe-to-toe for the first 7 innings before I switched over.
The Sox hadn't had a base runner since the fourth. Bedard, who has won seven consecutive starts and leads the American League in strikeouts, led off the inning by striking out Kevin Youkilis. Mike Lowell draws a walk, and Jason Varitek singles. Still one out. Coco Crisp hits a ground ball to Miguel Tejada, who tries too fast to try and turn a double play. He bobbles the ball, then he goes all Julian Tavarez on our asses and rolls the ball to third base for the force out on Lowell. Hell of a play, you'll probably see it on Web Gems. It's now first and second, two outs.
Guess who's up? Mr. Clutch himself, Wilfredo Modesto Pena. He of the .221 average and 19 RBI and, according to my count, 360 strikeouts on the season.
Here's where Bedard needs the hug. I'm not sure if you're all familiar with Major League umpire C.B. Bucknor. Very emphatic with his strikeout motion, has called an inconsistent game every time I've seen him behind home plate, which is where he is tonight.
First pitch to Pena, called strike.
Second pitch, Pena appears to hold up his swing, they appeal to first, he swung. Bedard has an 0-2 count on Pena. Advantage: Bedard.
Third pitch, same deal, Pena holds up, 1-2 count.
Fourth pitch, absolutely crushes the heart of Eric Bedard and every member of his family. It looked like strike 3 to me, a little low and inside, maybe, but good ol' C.B. calls it ball 2. 2-2 count.
Fifth pitch, Bedard hangs one and Pena sends it right up the middle for a base hit. Varitek scores. Tie game.
The Red Sox continue on to score four more runs with 2 outs in the top of the 8th to grab a 5-1 lead. All because of C.B. Bucknor. Over the course of the inning, as various relievers come in and give up base hit after base hit, Bedard literally looks like he is about to cry in the dugout. His eyes are misty, he swallows hard a few times, he looks completely distraught.
And now, I may be about to cry. Eric Gagne has turned into Eric GagMe. 1/3 of an inning pitched, 4 earned runs. The game is tied at 5, so Bedard is now off the hook. Hideki Okajima looks shaky, but he finishes the job without any further damage. In the words of Jerry Remy, "This went from being a pitcher's duel to a complete mess."
This has been one of the craziest baseball games I've watched all year. And to think, I almost watched preseason football during the middle of a pennant race.
