Sox Notes: No Excuses From Renteria
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
April 05, 2005
NEW YORK -- The initiation has been unkind to Edgar Renteria, who is 0-for-8 and has made an error in his first two games with the Red Sox.
The error -- which came on a crisp grounder off the bat of Alex Rodriguez in the third inning of Tuesday's contest -- was particularly troublesome for Renteria. It led directly to a run in a game the Sox lost, 4-3.
It wasn't the easiest play to make, in that the ball seemed to explode right before it got to Renteria's glove. However, the shortstop didn't get to be known as one of the game's classiest players by making excuses.
"He hit it hard, you know? I have to make that play," Renteria said. "No excuses. I have to be ready for that play. If I made that double play, I think we could have won."
The Red Sox weren't going to let him live with that notion.
"We're not down on him in any way, shape or form," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "He has absolutely worked his tail off all spring on all parts of his game. He's a relentless worker. He's going to do a great job for us. Right now, we had that happen. But it wasn't a routine play. It was a missile that took a tough hop for him."
"That's one of the greatest things about our ballclub," said Sox manager Terry Francona. "They're there for each other. Any nerves he may have, he won't be alone out there."
Renteria insists that nerves had nothing to do with the way he played in his first game.
"No, no, no," Renteria said. "I think when you prepare yourself by working hard you don't get nervous in a game."
He hit two balls hard in Tuesday's game, one of which was flagged down by Bernie Williams in center and another which went straight to Jeter for what wound up a rally-busting, 6-4-3 double play.
"I'm ready to go," said Renteria. "I'll keep working to get better and better."
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