14 Innings--Proving That What Happens in First Inning May mean Nothing!

Well, last night's game against the Rays at the Trop looked to be a laugher by the time the Sox were finished batting in the 1st. The first eight batters reached base, seven of them by hits. When the smoke had cleared, the Sox were up six-zip. Even after the Rays countered with a pair of their own in the bottom of the inning, it still seemed as if the Sox were on their way to an easy win. N o t   s o  f a s t! While the Hose were getting no additional runs and few hits, while they were for the balance of the nine innings striking our 10 times, the Rays were chipping away--a run here, another there, yet another a few innings later, and finally, an 8th inning tying run on a Tazawa wild pitch.  The Sox couldn't get anything in the 9th and they held the Rays scoreless in the bottom half, so extra innings. The Sox picked up a pair of runs in the 10th off Rays reliever Rodney, the second consecutive meltdown he's had this season against the Bosox. The runs came complements of Salty's base hit, at the end of which he gleefully flexed for the cameras while standing on first base. Up now, 8-6, one would think that with their closer, Bailey, coming on the Sox should hold on and win. One would think that, but, as noted above, N o t  S o  F a s t! First man he faces drives a no-doubter into the right center field cheaps and the lead is now just a paper thin run. Still, anyone can give up a shot now and then and still be OK. Not this time. Bailey proceeds to load the bases  and give up another run by allowing another hit and three free passes. All with no outs! It looked that the game was going to end right there with a Rays win, but the Sox pulled it out leaving the 10th tied at eight.
The final out of the inning came on The Dustman's second highlight reel defensive play of the game--in fact, of the then most recent three innings. Sensing a bunt on the bases loaded situation, he broke toward the right side of the plate even before the Rays batter had swung. The ball came right to him with just enough velocity to allow him to pick it up and flip to Carp at first for the inning ending out. The only play more spectacular in the game than this one was the one he pulled off to end the 8th when the Rays, tying run already in and a man on second, got a pop just to the right of the mound. Exploding from his position on the fringe of the outfield grass, he ran past three other Sox fielders and, glove extended, made a sliding, backhanded catch inches off the ground to end that inning. Had he not, it's likely the game would have ended in regulation with the Rays a 7-6 victor.
As ESPN broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe commented, Pedroia's fingerprints were all over this game. In addition to the two aforementioned sparklers, The Dustman also had a two run hit and stole a base. Just another day at the office for him. All of this, before I forget, with a torn thumb ligament that would have most players in surgery and out for at least 2-3 months. Cooperstown! Are you paying attention? Finally, in the 14th Nava came through with what turned out to be the winning hit, driving home a pair that the Hose pen made stand up this time. Morales pitched the final two innings and got the win, allowing just a single hit and a like number of freebies. Manager Farrell was hoping to avoid using him as he's scheduled for a spot start tomorrow, but, as the entire pen was now depleted, he had no choice. We'll worry about Wednesday on Wednesday.
Two other players also have much of the credit for this victory. Salty went 4 for 7, including three ribbies, two of them previously mentioned. Jake was 2 for 6 with a pair of stolen bases in the final inning to simultaneously expand his league lead to 26 in the category and set up the winning run. With the Stripes not playing, the Sox division lead grew to two games.