Red Sox fans got a chance to witness history on Wednesday. It wasn’t quite as thrilling as they may have hoped, however.
Partway through the second inning of Boston’s clash with Kansas City, Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel lined a rocket over Masataka Yoshida’s head. The ball hurtled towards Fenway’s Green Monster with venom. Then, in one fell swoop, it was swallowed up; Isbel’s liner slipped its way into the inside of a light fixture hanging from the bottom of the barrier.
Yoshida was flummoxed. He looked to the ruby beam in disbelief. The Monster had gobbled the white pellet. His job was done.
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— The Pesky Report (59-55) (@PeskyReport) August 9, 2023
The shock trickled its way to the broadcast booth, as well. Joe Castiglione, the voice of the Red Sox’s radio broadcasts for some 41 years, admitted it was the first time he had ever seen a play unfold like that.
Ultimately, the play worked out in Boston’s favor after Yoshida eventually ripped the abscess out of the wall’s wretched grasp. The delay saved the Red Sox a run since the play was ruled a ground-rule double. That meant that the lead runner — who started the at-bat on first base — was placed at third base, rather than scoring.
Kansas City wouldn’t score another run in the inning after Nick Pivetta coaxed a Maikel Garcia fly out on the very next at-bat. And Boston ended up winning the game by a solitary run.
All’s well that ends well, I suppose. Either way, those rollicking across the concourses at Fenway on Wednesday were greeted with quite the sight — one that’s unlikely to occur too many times going forward.
