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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 11, 2021 3:57:40 GMT -5
Tom Caron @tomcaron 4h Final thought of the night: Sox/Astros game lasted a glorious 3:47. Tons of action, lead changes, and controversy. Long games can be a blast. Baseball’s challenge is pace of play, not length of game. When balls are put in play and there’s plenty of action, this game still rocks.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 11, 2021 6:30:26 GMT -5
Peter Gammons @pgammo · 39m Two takeaways from Fenway:http://1.Boston's 3K lowest in three seasons another point to the game searching contact, 2. the Astros are a couple of relievers from being really good.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 11, 2021 8:13:21 GMT -5
The night Fenway Park hit a bit different Current Time 0:11 /
By Rob Bradford 2 hours ago
Even before Thursday's night wild ride at Fenway Park, one observer who had attended every game since full capacity became a thing had a thought.
"It's like the Roaring '20's," he said of the vibe on Jersey St.
It was dead-on.
The idea that the opportunity to sell all the seats at Fenway would immediately result in the old days of packed ballparks and the upper-crust of baseball consumers was simply off.
The crowds have been far from capacity, with the majority of those attending representing a much younger demographic than normal (probably due to the demand-induced lower prices). According to those who would know, there have been more scuffles than normal with a markedly different vibe than the one we left behind in 2019.
Let's just say this: There have been less fans than normal, but perhaps more enthusiasm.
So be it.
Whatever the concoction that was conjured up Thursday night during the Red Sox' slugfest of a 12-8 win over the Astros -- along with the 23,378 fans -- offered some much-needed enthusiasm and entertainment.
Runs. Music. Cheers. Wild fans. And, of course, a win.
The only game in town right now was one worth being at.
"It was loud. It was fun. We missed this," said Christian Vazquez, one of the offensive stars thanks to three hits. "We missed the crowd. I think it was loud and feels like a playoff game. That team is good. The Astros are a good team. It’s fun to play those games like that."
"It was good. The music was louder, it's good, the fans were into it," noted Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "Just two good teams battling. For how much baseball purists like the 2-1, 1-0 game, fans like 12-8 and going at it, back and forth. To manage those games is not fun. But I understand how people like it. I'm not saying let's go back to gorilla ball, but they do like this. They do like this."
And if there was any sort of punctuation needed that wasn't security guards chasing down another misguided fan on the field, Christian Arroyo offered that moment.
The second baseman got his team back into the conversation with a game-tying three-run homer in the fifth inning. That paved the way for the pivotal five-run fifth that gave the Red Sox the lead for good in a game that had a Major League-high six lead changes.
“Honestly, yeah. I think that it was pretty sweet to be able to do that," Arroyo said. "That’s my first Fenway homer in front of fans, so it was pretty awesome. I’m an emotional player when it comes to that stuff, I love to win. I hit it, I saw it and at that point that I knew it was out, I kind of just blacked out a little bit and I was just excited. It was kind of, we had the lead, then lost the lead and it just felt like one of those things where it was like all right, let’s just regroup here and we have a really good offense, so three runs is nothing. But I went in there with a plan, I was fortunate enough to execute my plan and fortunate enough for it to work out. Like I said, if I had gone in there and hit a line drive to left field and the left fielder catches it, I mean, what can you do? To say that I was excited was probably an understatement.”
For those hoping for a memorable Red Sox summer, this entire scene should have been encouraging.
You had things like Bobby Dalbec breaking out of his slump thanks in part to a 109.3 mph laser beam of a two-run double off the left field wall in that difference-making sixth inning.
There was a home run from J.D. Martinez, his 13th of the season but first since May 20.
Back in the leadoff spot, Enrique Hernandez managed to get on base three times with a pair of hits and a walk.
The relief-pitching trio of Adam Ottavino, Josh Taylor and Matt Barnes kept rolling around, shutting down the Astros for the final three innings.
And, all the while, people cheered ... loudly.
For one night anyway, Baseball has brought back a bit of normalcy.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 11, 2021 13:21:58 GMT -5
A few thoughts on the game last night that was pretty damn wild
something is still no right with E-rod....velocity is fine, but his command of his off speed stuff is still not up to snuff, and that was his bread and butter.
Not gonna bash Kiki, as he had a good game, but get Arroyo into the line up daily, and put him in the lead off spot.
Thought the usual 2-5 all had typical great games on both sides.....so nuff said on them.
Loved how they fought for each other, and the crowd was into it last night....
Astros kryptonite.....situational D, some of those hic ups last night were inexcusable, and their pen is shaky, other than that, they are a damn good ball team that will be playing in the fall. And I love Dusty.
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