Game 49: Four ejections in seventh overshadow final game
Boston @ Minnesota (Game 4 of 4)
It was the final game between the Red Sox and Twins of the year and the last time the BoSox will play in the Metrodome and it ended with fireworks in the seventh inning. Both managers and catchers for the Twins and Sox were ejected, two in the top half and two in the bottom half, as the Sox held on to a 3-1 victory.
Anthony Swarzak was on the mound for the Twins and was continuing on from his seven scoreless innings from his first start. Joe Crede, who returned from missing three games after being hit in the wrist, gave Swarzak a 1-0 lead in the second with a solo home run to left field.
Swarzak would finally give up his first Major League run in the fifth inning on a lead-off solo home run from Jason Varitek to tie the game at one. Varitek gave Boston the lead with another lead-off home run in the seventh to make it a 2-1 game. Swarzak would leave the game after facing two batters in the seventh and pitched six complete innings and stuck out three, walked four and gave up two home runs.
Then the fireworks began.
With Sean Henn pitching, Dustin Pedroia would hit a sacrifice fly to Jason Kubel in right field. Jeff Bailey would tag and run home as Kubel threw a perfect relay to Mike Redmond in a close play at the plate. The home plate umpire, Todd Tichenor, called Bailey safe as Redmond got up to argue the call and was immediately ejected. Ron Gardenhire then stormed out of the dugout to defend his player and was also ejected.
More ejections happened in the bottom half of the inning after Josh Beckett thought he threw strike three that was called a ball by Tichenor. After yelling at the umpire, catcher Jason Varitek stepped up and got in Tichenor’s face. Varitek was tossed out of the game and Red Sox manager, Terry Francona, was also tossed after coming to the defense of his player.
The damage was already done and the Twins were unable to comeback from a 2-run deficit and the Reed Sox held on to their 3-1 lead to split the four game series.
Attendance: 23,958
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