Call it revenge for the Boston Massacre of 1978.
Call it a Beantown Beat down.
Call it what you will, but the 4 Game Mid-September Sweep
at Fenway Park by the Red Sox over the Yankees, for all practical
purposes, put an end to the unlikely run by the Baby Bombers
to make the 2016 postseason.
The Yankees went into the series 4 games behind the 1st place
Red Sox, and only 2 games out of the 2nd Wild Card.
The loss in Game 1 of the series was like a dagger in the heart
for all die-hard fans. Masahiro Tanaka had allowed only 1 run
through 7 innings and the Yanks had a 5-1 lead. Joe Girardi
decided to take Tanaka out having thrown only 93 pitches
and went to Adam Warren to start the 8th inning. David Ortiz hit a
Homer over the Center Field wall. With that swing, Ortiz not
only narrowed the lead to 5-2, but also passed Mickey Mantle
on the all-time home run list with # 537 of his career.
This was a portent of more pain to come.
Dellin Betances entered the game in the 9th inning with
one out and an inherited runner on 1st base. Betances had
worked the two prior days and Girardi was clearly trying to
avoid using him. Betances had issues with command and also
fielding his position, allowing the lead to narrow to 5-4 and setting up
a two out, showdown with two runners on and Hanley Ramirez at the
plate. Ramirez turned around a 3 ball-1 strike 99 mph fastball for a three-run
walk-off home run. Betances suffered his second loss in as many nights
and the devastating defeat was, “not what you want ” (to steal a Girardi-ism)
to start an 11 game road trip.
For me personally it felt like by far the most painful loss of the year.
My usual ritual at the end of most Yankee wins is to send an immediate
post-game winning tweet. I had the headline ready to go and was just waiting
for the final out. I was going with ..
_______
YANKEES WIN !!!
*** ‘HIRO WORSHIP ***
MASAHIRO TANAKA LOWERS
ERA TO A.L. LOWEST 2.97
IMPROVES TO 14-4 ON THE SEASON
AS YANKS CLOSE TO WITHIN 3 GAMES
OF 1ST AND 1 GAME OF THE WC.
_______
Well unfortunately I had to hit the delete button and go with a different headline :
*** FEN.WAY TOO PAINFUL ***
That stunning loss lead to a 4 game sweep.
The odds of the Baby Bombers making the playoffs after
trading off three of their best players was a long-shot.
But to be delivered the death-blow by the hated Red Sox is
“not what you want” and .. FEN.WAY TOO PAINFUL !!
