feste_sylvain

And it's Big Papi with the walk-off home run!

(gasp, wheeze, pant)

Leave it fer the last second, why dontcha?

I come home from a party that shadesong and yendi held for their lovely daughter and her friends, who now include alyveritya and my younger. persis also showed up with her daughter, so much high-pitched giggling and the like was heard about the house.

But when I come home, I check on the Red Sox, who are beating the Orioles 4-0 in the 6th. I cheer as the Sox put up another four runs, which pretty much nails the coffin shut on the Birds. But then the line score is displayed, and I see that the Orioles haven't gotten a hit all game!

(Wait a minute. Don't we have a rookie just called up from the minors pitching tonite?)

Yes, we do. Clay Buchholz did pitch earlier this year for the major club, beating the Angels earlier in August and looking pretty good doing it. But then he was back down to the minors, until Tim Wakefield pulled a muscle in his back (and, of course, the September call-ups expand all major-league team rosters from 25 players to 40).

This is his second major-league start ever.

And man, he looked good. His fast-ball was just "okay"; 92 mph looks outstanding in the minors, but is just a typical fast-ball in the majors. But he was landing his change-up wherever he wanted it, and his 12->6 curve-ball was just evil.

He struck out 9, and that ain't hay either. And he did it to the club who battered every pitcher we threw at them the night before.

There may be no crying in baseball, but the young man was in tears when "Clay Buchholz, No-Hitter" was beamed up on the scoreboard. And nobody in Fenway's 371st consecutive sell-out blamed him one bit.