Boston College and Northeastern both get the joy of playing the Boston Red Sox each spring. Even though scores are usually never close, games against the major league squad can be a highlight for many of the players who grew up watching them play.
Yesterday, the Red Sox played a split squad exhibition game against the Huskies and Eagles. The Red Sox started the day off by pummeling the Huskies 25-0. Cody Ross and Adrian Gonzalez led the Sox, and it was never even close. BC on the other hand held their own against the Boston Red Sox.
In front of over 8,000 fans, the Eagles dropped the nightcap. Sophomore starter Steve Green allowed two hits, four runs, three earned, four hits, five walks and struck out two. Green started the night out strong, getting the Sox in order in the first, but got lit up in the second with big hits by Ryan Lavarnway and Mike Aviles. The Sox got another run off a passed ball, but the play of the game happened when Marc Pedrios reached over the fence to rob David Ortiz of a grand slam.
BC rallied in the third, scoring two runs in the third. Junior Rob Moir led off with a single and stole second and followed by sophomore John Hennessy who drove him in on a base hit to left. Andrew Lawrence drove in the second BC run on a groundout to first base.
The Red Sox continued to build on their lead in the third and the fourth innings. In the third inning Lavarnway drove in Alex Hassan who doubled. Juan Carlos Linares plated Pedro Circaco, who doubled to left and stole second. The Eagles added another run in the fifth. Freshman Travis Ferrick was hit by a pitch and junior Matt McGovern grounded to short, but an error by Circiaco allowed both base runners to advance to second and third and driven in by Lawrence.
To only only lose to the Red Sox by 3 is a victory in it's own sense for the Eagles. Any game where you can stay competitive against a major league club shows a lot about your team. BC could have easily gone out there and pulled a Northeastern, but they stuck in there. They held their own against the pros, which is just another sign that Mike Gambino has this club ready to win, ACC baseball is starting soon and I think BC baseball is going to turn some heads.