The seven inning contest between BC and the Red Sox was dedicated to former BC player Peter Frates whose remarkable story appears here – written by BSI’s Brandon Nickel. Thank you, Mr. Frates, for your courage and contribution.
The upset may not have been Buster Douglas versus Mike Tyson or even Dewey versus Truman but it was close as the dynamic Eagles of Boston College were upset by the professionals from Boston. The final tally in the seven inning contest was Red Sox a lone run and the boys from The Heights not a single tally.
Wade Miley, fresh from an off-season trade and a new contract, took the Ft. Myers bump for Boston. In his two innings Miley allow one hit, a single to Lexington’s Chris Shaw, with no walks and two strikeouts.
For BC, senior right-hander Eric Stone started allowing a first inning single to Rusney Castillo and a walk to Daniel Nava in his lone inning of service for the Maroon and Gold of The Heights.
Next up for Boston on the rubber was Craig Breslow to start the third against the collegians.
Sophomore catcher Nick Sciortino greeted Breslow with a double and after two outs, senior Blake Butera, playing second base for the Eagles, pumped a single to left field only be cut down at home on a Nava to Ryan Hanigan toss.
In the last of the third the stellar BC pitching continued as freshman Brian Rapp replaced Tyler Hinceliffe and easily breezed through the overmatched Red Sox. Rapp’s three up and three down included a punch out of Jackie Bradley.
Boston’s next for a tune-up was Brandon Workman coming off a 1-10 season. Workman, auditioning for a bullpen slot, quickly disposed of the Eagles in the top of the fourth with a 1-2-3 that included two strikeouts.
Knuckleballer Steven Wright opened the top of the fifth for Boston and senior Travis Ferrick said hello with a single. That would be the lone base-runner in Wright’s inning on the hill. Going into the Boston half of the fifth it remained 0-0.
Edwin Escobar started the top half of the sixth for Boston and struck out two in allowing no base runners. In the last of the frame Boston got on the board to give Escobar a win.
Carmen Giampetruzzi, starting his third inning, gave up a leadoff triple to Jemile Weeks. With two out Blake Swihart singled on a line shot to center to give Boston their only run and set up a potential upset win.
The top of the seventh the Red Sox brought in Dalier Hinojosa to close it out and Dalier did not disappoint and received a save for his efforts.
Wednesday is an off day before Boston starts the spring training schedule with a neighborhood visit to Hammond Field to face the Minnesota Twins.