May 22, 2005
Weather and Braves Dampen Red Sox Fans
Final Score from Saturday's game at Fenway Park:
Atlanta Braves: 7
Boston Red Sox: 5
The bigger story besides the score is that this was the major league debut for Kyle Davies--a local kid, whose family my wife knows. We've kept up with his progress from high school through the minors. When the Braves ran into a problem with its pitching staff--two starters now out on the disabled list--then the team had to call up Kyle up from the Richmond Braves.
Can you imagine being twenty-one years old, being suddenly and unexpectedly called up from the minors, making your major league debut against the World Series defending champions Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and having your family and girl friend fly up to watch you? Pressure!? When my wife said he was starting the game, both my son and I said something to the effect. "Well, he's going to be killed. He won't last past the third inning." I'm glad to have to eat my words in this case. Davies pitched five scoreless innings and left with four walks, six strike outs, and a 7-0 lead and earned his first major league win. I'm happy for him.
Today's match-up has the Braves' John Smoltz (3-3, 2.83) going against the Red Sox's Matt Clement (4-0, 3.56) Game time is 2:05 PM EDT.
Go Braves!! And, for the politically correct....Oh, oh, ohhhhhhh..oh, oh, ohhhhhhhh....
Posted by GM Roper at May 22, 2005 12:30 PM | TrackBackthe series is tied, no?
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steve, the Red Sox took the last game and won the series. The Braves had won something like six series straight up there, but we're hurting in the pitching department--not to take anything away from the bats of the Red Sox. We have two starting pitchers out on the DL and a "closer by committee." Some changes have to made soon.
Woody
Posted by steve at May 22, 2005 05:05 PM
We're not dampened after all!! Come over to the good side Woody. Ok, any team associated with Hank Aaron I can't speak unkindly of.
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Well, there was a pretty steady rain in yesterday's game.
You would be very surprised to know that I follow and pull for the Red Sox more than any team other than the Braves. My kids have Red Sox hats, and we have baseballs that they had autographed by Jason Veritek, Nomar Garciaparro, and Jay Payton when they played for Georgia Tech and my older son helped the team.
Sometimes when I have to give my address and I don't want to, I use 755 Hank Aaron Drive, which is the address for Turner Field. I figured that would give them 1 in 49,800 chances of finding me.
W
Posted by steve at May 22, 2005 08:17 PM
I am old enough to remember as a 10 year old boy watching Hank Aaron hit that homerun off of Al Downing live on TV. I knew practically every baseball fact about Aaron at that time.
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Trivia Quiz:
Who caught that home run?
Woody
Posted by steve at May 23, 2005 07:32 AM
That I do not know, though I remember it was a big deal at the time, the guy got quite a bit of coverage...but I don't remember who it was. Ted Turner?
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Ted Turner caught only Jane Fonda--a poor consolation prize.
The person who caught the 715th home run by Hank Aaron, beating Babe Ruth's records, did not get a lot of coverage. He was Tom House, a reliever in the bullpen.
Here's the story from the Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/5.html :
"Aaron's home run was caught by Braves reliever Tom House, who was in the bullpen. The bullpen crew had planned ahead, with each player manning an area about 10 yards wide, and agreeing not to infringe on each other's territory. The choice bullpen spots closer to left field went to those with more seniority. After catching the ball, House raced to home plate and gave the ball to Aaron."
Do you remember who made the pitch to him?
Woody
Posted by steve at May 23, 2005 11:45 AM
I thought it was Al Downing? no? or was that 714?
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Al Downing THREW the home run pitch.
House CAUGHT the home run while he was warming up in the left field bull pen.
W
Posted by steve at May 23, 2005 01:31 PM
yeah, it was, I mentioned it earlier, so ya can't say I cheated by looking at the Sporting News article!
Posted by steve at May 23, 2005 01:32 PM
right woody, that's how I remembered who threw the pitches. I wish I could say it is like yesterday, but not quite. Still I remember it as a ten year old saw it!
Posted by steve at May 23, 2005 08:17 PM
i.e. as an amazingly exciting event!
Posted by steve at May 23, 2005 09:05 PM
