Renteria Back In Fast Lane
By Michael Silverman
The Boston Herald
June 23, 2005
CLEVELAND - Edgar Renteria is two road trips removed from his
epic .667
journey through Toronto and New York.
Last night, however, the shortstop served reminder that he has
bat, will
travel and can still sway ball games in the Red Sox' favor. Renteria
knocked in
the game-winning run in the ninth inning with a double lined into the
gap in
left-center field. Jay Payton scored to put the Red Sox up by the
game's final
margin, 5-4.
The game-winning hit came off Cleveland closer Bob Wickman, a
pitcher whom
Renteria had never faced before.
``I asked what he throws and they said, `sinker, slider, split,'
something
like that,'' Renteria said. ``First pitch, he threw me a sinker, I hit
a foul
ball. After that, he threw me a slider and I got lucky, got a foul
ball. Next,
he comes in with a sinker and I just tried to put the ball in play, and
something's going to happen when you put the ball in play.''
Renteria was a factor early as well as late.
In the third inning, he launched a solo home run off Indians
starter Cliff
Lee for the only run the Red Sox could muster through the first six
innings. The
home run, his sixth of the season, was Renteria's first since June 8 at
St.
Louis.
With his 2-for-5 effort in the series finale at Jacobs Field,
Renteria
improved to 4-for-9 on the road trip. For the season, Renteria is
hitting .268
with 28 RBI and 13 doubles. After smacking his ninth-inning double,
Renteria
stole third base (steal No. 5) without a throw.
He is producing despite playing with a sore left wrist that
requires him to
wear a brace when not in uniform.
``Today, I feel pretty good. That last at-bat, I didn't think
about my hand,'
' Renteria said. ``It's a little sore but I can handle that.''
And the Red Sox can handle more performances like the one
Renteria turned in
last night.
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