Ben Wah, brought in to protect a 5-2 lead over the Rangers, gave up a solo homer to Neftali Perez and a two run shot to Mike Napoli. Tie game, just like that.
But I can get us a win, I said. Like Crash Davis in "Bull Durham:" "I can get us a rainout ..."
How? asked Maggie.
I'll turn the game off. (This strategy having worked before, most notably in 1987 when Lou Whitaker hit a walkoff homer in a game I silenced knowing they needed a win. That's the year they won the AL East by one game. I still think I deserve a partial share of playoff money.)
I did, and in the next half inning Brennan Boesch homered.
Jose Valverde made the run hold up, and we had a 6-5 win.
My queen asked the question I knew she would:
So why don't you do that more often?
You can't. Then its effectiveness would be compromised. It's a gift to be used sparingly. So affirmed the old man in the Twilight Zone who could see into the future and knew what you needed, and just happened to have it at hand.
Shoudn't you have waited until we play the Indians ... ?
No. (Aren't you glad you're single?) A win in August is as good as one in September, and the Indians were losing.
They did lose, at Fenway after a 90 minute rain delay despite rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis' third homer in three games, extending the Tigers' lead to three games.
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