A Memorial Day to Forget
Sunday, May 28, 2017 – Fenway Park, Section 43
Mariners 5, Red Sox 0
Sunday of Memorial Day weekend brought a sunny morning, and my warmest game of the year so far. (With all the cold ones I’ve sat through all it took was 62° to beat my previous high.) I drove in early and parked for free at a meter down the street from Kenmore Square. I went in the early entrance line for season ticket holders and Red Sox Nation members. I started on the Green Monster, but moved down to the bleachers when I saw that the pitchers were warming up in right field.
Drew Pomeranz threw a side session with Eduardo Rodriguez looking on.
Chris Young stood in as a batter during the bullpen session.
Brandon Workman stood with a corn-rowed Heath Hembree, who apparently asked his barber to give him "the Bronson Arroyo."
Sandy Leon, along with the rest of the team, wore special uniforms for Memorial Day weekend.
Rick Porcello got the start. He went 6-1/3 innings and gave up two runs.
Mookie Betts took the field with a smile in the top of the first.
You can tell this picture of Dustin Pedroia was taken in the top of the first, because there's no dirt on his uniform yet.
Why so many pictures from before the game started, and so few from the actual game? Because the pre-game was my favorite part of the day. I came in in a good mood, as the Sox had won six in a row, capped by rookie Brian Johnson’s complete game gem the day before. I was comfortable in short sleeves, enjoying the morning sun. It was all good… and then the game started.
While the morning was sunny, the clouds came as the game started, and it remained overcast. We even felt a couple of drops of rain in the fourth inning, and I pulled on my jacket. But it was still the warmest game I had been to this year.
Rick Porcello gave up 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings, which should be enough. But the offense had disappeared again. The Red Sox got people on base, but ended each of the first four innings with a double play. Very frustrating! It’s pretty hard to win a game without scoring any runs. And then the bullpen, normally very good, gave up two homers and let the game get out of reach. By the end, we were watching the Red Sox debut of journeyman reliever Blaine Boyer, who was only supposed to be on the roster for a day, between sending Brian Johnson back down after his spot start and activating David Price off the D.L. the next day. (As it turned out, Boyer got the last two outs of the ninth quickly, and got to stay on the roster.)
Andrew Benintendi hit into two double plays.
Jackie Bradley Jr. also hit into a double play.
Xander Boagaerts actually reached base three times - which just means that he was erased on a double play twice and stranded.
All that added up to a frustrating end to what could have been an enjoyable day, and a game I’d rather forget.
