Boston’s error-free streak comes to end
The Boston Red Sox saw their record streak of error-free games end Saturday, when catcher Doug Mirabelli’s throw to second base sailed into center field in the first inning against the Florida Marlins.
It was Boston’s first error in 18 games. The 17-game run of perfect defense was one more than the previous best in major league history, set by the 1992 St. Louis Cardinals.
Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez stole second, and Mirabelli’s throw curved well away from the base and into center field. Ramirez took third on the play.
It was Mirabelli’s first error in 20 games this season.
Two batters later, shortstop Alex Gonzalez made his second error in 240 chances this season, fielding a grounder off the bat of Miguel Cabrera but throwing the ball well away from second baseman Alex Cora in an effort to force out Mike Jacobs.
“Because it’s gotten a little bit of national attention, I think it brings some notice to our team’s defense, which I think is good,” Boston manager Terry Francona said of the streak before the game. “You show up to win. I think a good way to win is not make errors.”
Boston’s previous error was made by Kevin Youkilis on June 11, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.
The Red Sox entered with a streak of 668 errorless chances, and their 23 errors entering July were the lowest by any team going back to at least 1960. Every other team had at least 35 errors entering the day, and the average of the other 29 major league teams was 49.4 errors.
Ramirez gets 2,000th hit
Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez got the 2,000th hit of his career, a three-run home run off Brian Moehler in the first inning against the Florida Marlins.
Ramirez is the 18th active player to hit the mark, joining the club that Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels reached earlier in the day.
The 34-year-old Ramirez, in his 13th major league season, has managed at least 149 hits in 11 consecutive years. He entered the day with a .313 career average, and is on pace for his 10th season of hitting at least .300.
Ramirez is the 241st player in major league history with at least 2,000 hits. He reached the milestone after connecting on a 2-2 pitch for his 21st home run of the year, a 382-foot shot to right field.
Myers pitching was ‘mistake’
The president of the Philadelphia Phillies said the team made a “mistake” when it let Brett Myers pitch a day after being arrested and charged with hitting his wife on a Boston street.
Club president Dave Montgomery, in interviews with two Philadelphia newspapers on Friday, said the team mishandled the situation.
“The decision to allow Brett to pitch was wrong,” Montgomery told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “And the reason I believe it was wrong was that an unintended message was sent that we are somehow indifferent to the matter of spousal abuse.”
Myers, the team’s best starter, pleaded not guilty to assault charges at his arraignment on June 23 in Boston Municipal Court. His next court date is Aug. 4.
Fans pelt field after homer
With the Chicago Cubs so close to winning, fans littered Wrigley Field with plastic bottles, cups, and other debris after A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out, ninth-inning homer to send the crosstown White Sox to an 8-6 victory.
The game was delayed nearly five minutes as security and the grounds crew came out to pick up the litter. Most of it fell on the warning track in the outfield.
Rios still hospitalized
The Toronto Blue Jays placed Alex Rios on the 15-day disabled list as doctors continued to treat the outfielder for a serious infection in his lower left leg.