BEANZAI!
It feels like Dawn over Tokyo, watching Beantown’s own open vs the A’s in the Tokyo Dome at 6 a.m. via the wonder of HDTV. Matsuzaka loses face on the hometown mound, soybeans one and walks another, gives up two runs and throws away 30 pitches in a 2-0 first-inning disaster. That’s OK, the fat geisha hasn’t sung. No need for anyone to unsheath the short sword just yet. They have eight innings and seven months to go.
Score-a! Score-a! Score-a! Top of the sixth, Moss bats in Manny, it’s 3-2 as Sox climb out of the honeybucket. Oops, back in again as A’s get two past ‘em. It’s a ballgame.
“Sweet Caroline” sounds like it lacks a little “Oh-Oh-Oh” that close to Osaka.
Brandon Moss ties it in the ninth. Another great rookie performance, in the spirit of standout Sox newbies Pedroia, who got on base with his first swing, and Ellsbury’s magnificent catch halfway up the wall in center field.
10th inning. Fat geisha kept waiting. Two on base, Manny lofts it deep into center field, off the wall, brings in Lugo and Papi. That’s Manny getting wicked Japan-y.* Classic comeback as Sox lead 6-4 in the tenth. Moss fly to left ends the at-bat, A’s get their shot now. Papelbon looking to put a cork in the sake bottle, gives up a base hit and racks up a K. One dropped into the dead zone between center and right, A’s get a run home, runner not happy with a double goes for third and gets tagged in a pickle. Cliffhanger with 2 outs, one on base. Make that two on base, 6-5, cliffhanging nailbiter. Looks like Papelbon’s getting ready to walk a Suzuki. But he chops and he’s out at first.
It’s Sox, 6-5. The fat geisha just yodeled …
BEANZAI!!!
Boston Herald here.
Fox 25 here.
Herald on fans: Rise and Shine, Sox Nation.
Herald’s Opening Day photo gallery. It’s just like Fenway:
Only different:
*More Manny being Japan-y, please. Howzabout some Big Papi-san. American SLAMurai J.D. Drew.
Topics: Boston, Japan, baseball
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 6:43 am Comments (1) on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
One Response to “BEANZAI!”
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March 25th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I suppose that they had to munch on squid. YUCK!!!!