The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox (2025) s01e07 Episode Script
Episode 7
1
- [Cora] Go, TO!
- [player] Come on, TO!
[Will] Three and
two. Here it is.
Swing and a ground ball to third.
It's handled there by Rojas.
He throws across
the diamond in time.
Final score, ten
to six, Seattle.
The Red Sox defense just
not good enough tonight.
[somber, melodic music plays]
[Will] A lot of talk about
Duran playing in every game.
By the way, Duran's the
first Red Sox player
since Mo Vaughn to start
the Red Sox first 86 games.
And that was 28 years ago.
[commentator 1] Wow.
[Duran] See you, boys.
See you guys tomorrow.
See you, Tommy.
[commentator 2] I talked to guys in
the Minor Leagues, coaches, managers,
that say their kids watch
that guy play every day.
And they asked them, "You're in
Double-A, Triple-A. Why don't you?"
[fans cheering]
[man 1] Can I get a
picture? One last time!
- [woman 1] Thank you for signing my ball.
- [boy 1] Yay! Thank you.
- [man 1] Thank you!
- [Duran] Welcome.
- [woman 2] I love him.
- [boy 2] Everybody loves him.
Every single girl loves him.
[Duran] There you
go. No problem.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- [man 2] Sign my shoes?
- [Duran] You want me to sign your shoe?
- [man 2] Hell yeah.
- [woman 3] Random!
- On the white. On the white.
- [woman 3] But okay.
Thank you so much, man.
That's going on the shelf.
- [woman 4] I love your tattoos.
- [Duran] Thank you.
[woman 4] Thanks for being
such a great role model
for all the younger players too.
- [Duran] Of course.
- [man 3] Hey, Jarren, I love your hustle.
[Duran] Thank you so
much. I appreciate it.
- What's up, strangers? How you guys doing?
- You see us behind the dugout or no?
- [Duran] You sat behind the dugout?
- Yeah.
[Duran] Why would I look
behind? You never sit there.
We have… we have, like, a…
a little gift for you now.
- [Duran] Okay.
- And then Sunday's another one.
- [Duran] It's a keychain?
- [girls] Yeah.
- [girl] You had enough bracelets.
- [Duran] That's sick.
[girl] It matches your belt.
- [Duran] You noticed that?
- [girls] Yeah.
- [girl] We'll see you tomorrow.
- Guys, have a good one. Okay, sounds good.
Thank you.
[grunts]
[director] Is that every night?
Yeah, I do that every night.
If you guys want good
people to interview,
you should interview
those… that girl there.
[director] Okay. We… we got her.
- We understand they're coming with gifts.
- Yeah.
They… She is here
every single game.
Every single game.
- How's the wrist?
- [man 4] Better.
Yeah? Nice.
No more eagle lifting?
- [man 4] No. I'm still eagle lifting.
- No?
[laughs] I love that.
- All right.
- All right, bud. I'll see you.
Yeah, the Bronco… I mean,
obviously, you guys saw.
It was just giving me, like,
problems that I didn't really need.
So I was just looking for something,
like, I guess not more reliable,
but I've always wanted,
like, a faster car.
I've never really
had, like, a fast car.
But I've always liked
the Mitsubishi Evos
ever since Paul Walker was
driving one in Fast & Furious.
So…
I think the… the
thing that, like,
makes me, like, wanna go out
there and sign every day is that…
um, there's gonna
be, like, one kid
that I sign for, and it's
gonna make him so happy.
And I'm like… It would… it
would mean the world to me,
like, if I was to be able to
meet an idol when I was little.
So, like, that's how
I think about it.
I was like, "If I can just
go over there and sign
and, like, make somebody's day
that much better… for them,
like, I'm gonna go and do that."
And I've met some pretty awesome
people getting to do that every day.
So that makes me happy.
'Cause I tear myself down
so much in this game.
I tell myself how much
I suck every single day.
And then to be able to see,
like, the smile on their faces
really brings me
back down to earth.
[mellow music plays]
[Andrew] Hey, how'd the
cambio feel yesterday?
- [Bello] Better today than
- [Andrew] What'd you… what'd you do?
This.
- I did a fastball like this.
- [Andrew] Okay.
- Just throw.
- [Andrew] Okay.
- [thwack]
- [Andrew in Spanish] Damn!
[in English] I love Brayan.
He's a naturally good pitcher.
You like more depth, right?
He's blessed with, you know, the
physical capability to do so.
- That's normal?
- Yeah.
But we're going through a
moment of performance issues.
And that's okay.
And, you know, we just need
him to go out and compete
and be the pitcher he is.
Brayan, let me know if you're
open to trying some things today
for the cambio.
- [in Spanish] Did you understand?
- [Bello] Yes.
[melodic, expectant music plays]
Oh my God. I throw it
out, and it goes in.
I throw it in, it goes out.
[Andrew in English] What are
we frustrated with? Location?
[Bello in Spanish]
Missing a lot.
[in English] "Missing."
[Andrew] Have you tried
down here… a little bit?
- [Bello] The changeup's okay?
- [Andrew] Yeah.
[Bello exhales deeply]
[thwack]
- [Andrew] Just looking.
- [Bello groans]
[Andrew] You're okay.
This top seam needs to come down a
little bit, about… ten… ten degrees.
Failure is going to lead us to
the right answer and success.
But we have to be able to create the
space to work through that to get there.
[music continues]
[commentator 1] Good afternoon,
everybody, from Fenway Park in Boston
for the rubber game of
this three-game series
between the Red Sox and
the Seattle Mariners.
[commentator 2] We're knotted
up 1-1, last game of the series.
Two teams battling
for the wild card.
Red Sox trying to end the
month of July on a big uptick.
Man, do they need a win.
Haven't won a series since
prior to the All-Star break.
[commentator 3] I think some of that
could be it's getting towards August.
I mean, it's the dog days of August
where the nerves are getting there,
their legs are tired, not
moving as well as they were.
[Varitek] National fucking avocado
day. You fucking like your superfoods.
[O'Neill] I fucking hate avocado
though. Fucks up my stomach real bad.
Jeez-o-Pete, can you
fucking eat anything?
I know, right? Chicken
and rice, baby.
[commentator 2] Craig
Breslow has been adamant
that the Red Sox
would pick a lane.
They did. They bought.
They added Danny Jansen
and James Paxton,
two right-handed bullpen arms.
Lucas Sims from the Reds and
Luis García from the LA Angels.
So you came to the deadline.
You needed help in the
bullpen. They got that.
People might not think Danny Jansen's
some high-dollar right-handed hitter,
but they addressed that need.
- [crowd cheers]
- [Andrew] Yes!
[player shouts indistinctly]
- [commentator 2] Danny Jansen…
- [Andrew] Yeah!
[cheering continues]
[commentator 2] And a meaningful
moment for the new guy. A 2-2 tie.
[ethereal, expectant
music plays]
[commentator 1] Brayan
Bello is ready to go.
[Andrew] Yeah!
[commentator 2] Ninety-seven miles
an hour to strike out Vosler.
[commentator 3] This is what
you want Brayan Bello to be.
The difference right now is
experience, location, confidence.
[Jansen] Let's go, baby. You
better get this motherfucker here.
- Let's get this guy.
- [Bello] What you wanna throw first pitch?
[Jansen] I like
your sinker down.
You wanna go backdoor slider first?
That's fine. Let's get it out there.
Let's get this fucker on the
ground, get a double play.
- [Bello] Let's go, man.
- You sure?
- [Bello] Yeah, let's go.
- [Jansen] Let's go.
[Bello in Spanish] Let's go.
- [soundscape fades]
- [music continues]
[commentator 2 in English] Swing, a
miss with the change to strike him out.
- The inning is over. Nice job by Bello.
- [commentator 4] Is that enough?
Because this team,
in the last couple years,
really stumbled in August.
[commentator 1] Sims.
And his pitch is
bounced down to third.
Routine play. Devers wins
the race to third base.
And that ends the inning.
Nice debut for Lucas Sims.
[commentator 3] Steve,
I would say that…
I mean, I'm not, like,
dying and pissed off
if I'm in that clubhouse,
but I'm also not jumping
around like we got Verlander.
But I'd still say
you're satisfied, right?
Like, you dipped your toe in it.
You know, you got a little taste
of it, and you added some arms.
I think he did enough to give this team
a fighting chance here down the stretch.
[commentator 2] They go to
the home half of the tenth.
Rex Sox with a chance to win
it. Tied at two with Seattle.
The automatic runner at
second base is Tyler O'Neill.
[bass guitar music plays]
[commentator 2] The pressure
continues to fall on Raffy Devers.
He's their best player.
And if Casas were in the lineup,
some of the pressure
would fall on him too, so…
[commentator 1] Will they pitch to
Rafael Devers with first base open?
Looks like they will.
[commentator 2] I don't get it. Why
would you pitch to Devers in any way?
And then they get a lefty
with Refsnyder on deck.
[commentator 1] Two-nothing.
Swing and a fly ball, left
center field, well hit.
Raley's back there, all
the way to the wall.
- It's off the wall! Here comes the run!
- [crowd cheering]
Here comes O'Neill!
He will score. Raffy delivers.
And the Red Sox win it
at ten, three to two.
[cheering continues]
[commentator 3] They
needed that, didn't they?
Raffy Devers comes through. The
man has been absolutely on fire.
Left on left.
Big hit from Devers.
And this team gets a real big
win and, more importantly,
wins the season series
against the Seattle team.
[commentator 1] And win it
in thrilling fashion here
by a final score
of three to two.
[Andrew] Hell of a job, boys!
Nice job. Nice job. Nice job.
Fucking A. Oh yeah.
[commentator 1] And the Red
Sox with a big celebration.
[commentator 2] Bello
really set the tone.
I thought he looked really sharp
and it's something to build off of
because that was a really
nice outing for him.
I think they're
optimistic about Casas.
Now personally, I think he needs
a couple of weeks down in rehab,
but it doesn't sound
like it's gonna be long.
[commentator 1] Well, terrific win,
and some wins mean more than others.
- They just do.
- [up-tempo music plays]
[Mazz] A night like last
night should give you
just a little tingle to make
you think, "You know what?"
"This team's gonna hang
around. They can fight."
Alex Cora called it sustainable.
Now you get into
August, post deadline.
Every game matters.
Every pitch matters.
This is when baseball
starts to get good.
This is when you have the meaningful
games with the meaningful pitches,
the meaningful at bats,
and the significant catches.
All that stuff, it matters now.
So what the hell is taking Triston Casas
so long to come back to the big leagues?
[music fades out]
[Casas huffs]
[Casas] There is a
burden with success…
Fucker.
…and with failure.
When you're successful, people
expect a lot out of you.
Damn. My fucking hand hurts.
I show up on time. I give my
best effort every single day.
What everybody can
at least acknowledge
in my routine is my
consistency about it.
I think that's what's, uh, you know,
gonna put us in the best position to win.
I'm gonna go and do it.
It hurts to breathe, like,
when I get to like 75
percent capacity, I feel it.
I could get to 100,
but that last 25 percent, it
feels like somebody's stabbing me.
[Joe] We hoped he'd
be back by now,
but that's a very tough injury
when you tear a rib cage.
I'm sure it's worse
than a broken rib.
But, uh, hopefully he's back
sometime mid-August. Just a guess.
[man] Alex Cora said that
the rehab process for Triston
is really about what
Triston dictates.
[woman] Casas giving
conflicting reports.
He tells Chris Cotillo he
feels pretty fine for MassLive.
Then he goes over
to the NESN reporter
and says he feels like he's
getting stabbed by knives.
[Cora] I had a good conversation
with Triston. He's fine.
Obviously, he will feel it,
but it's not like what he was
feeling before he went on the IL.
[Refsnyder] When's Triston back?
- Soon.
- Fuck.
People realize that we
have six weeks left.
You can chill in six
weeks if you need to.
Right.
[Mazz] The timing for the Red Sox
to make the playoffs is dwindling.
You can't do what's best for you. You
gotta do what's best for your team.
Get your ass back in the lineup.
People are gonna have their own opinions
about me and how I go about my things.
And I'm comfortable knowing
that I'm giving my best effort
every single day.
[birds chirping]
[Peter] Billy Bean used to
describe the season as this.
The first two months are spent
optimistically finding out what you have.
The next two months are spent
getting what you think you need.
And then, on the 1st August,
when the trading deadline's over,
all right, now you play.
[player 1] Fuck it.
Take a full swing.
- Take a full swing?
- [player 2] No!
- Take a full swing?
- [player 3] Yeah!
[player 4] Jesus Christ,
Kenley. Please! No!
[player 5] Go, go, go!
[player 3] Fore!
[sharp clang]
- I can't fucking do it! Fuck!
- [players laughing]
[Sean] The start of the
season held a lot of promise.
So there was a feel-good element
to the team around mid-season.
- [player 4] No!
- Take one for the fucking team!
[player 4] No!
- [Kenley] Yeah!
- [player 4] No!
Maybe I break one shit, we're
gonna fucking win the World Series.
[player 4] Don't do it!
[clatter]
[Sean] Since the All-Star break,
I think a lot of things
caught up to the Red Sox.
They call August the dog days of the
season, and they don't do it for nothing.
["Shambala" by Three
Dog Night plays]
- [man 1] It's meaningful games in August.
- Fuck, it's hot!
[man 1] In this stretch, 19 games where
16 are against nothing but contenders.
[man 2] You said it.
These next three weeks are gonna
be a big-time test for the Sox.
Dude, it is hot.
[Garrett] Late
July, angry August.
That's the dog days.
That's when it's like,
"Dude, I'm 100 games
into this thing."
"How the heck am I
gonna turn this around?"
Wash away my troubles
Wash away my pain ♪
With the rain in Shambala… ♪
Fucking muggy out there.
Wash away my sorrow
Wash away my shame… ♪
- [commentator 1] That ball is gone.
- With the rain in Shambala ♪
[cheering]
[Varitek] Hey! You know what we got
today? National Extraterrestrial Day.
Phone home, bitch.
[Will] It's flying!
[commentator 2] My
goodness gracious.
National fucking all-or-nothing today.
Whatever you got, just give it to me.
Go.
Everyone is helpful,
everyone is kind… ♪
You did everything you could.
That's a fucking really good at bat.
Everyone is lucky,
everyone is so kind ♪
On the road to Shambala ♪
[Varitek] Getting
through the long season,
there's a mental stability
to being able to last.
It's about what you can do
to put them in situations
to bring out their
best version of them.
So we got National
Climb a Mountain Day.
I want balls hit over
the fucking mountain.
I need fucking mountain balls!
- How does your light shine ♪
- [crowd cheers]
- In the halls of Shambala? ♪
- [Andrew] Nice one, T!
- How does your light shine ♪
- [crowd cheers]
In the halls of Shambala? ♪
[Garrett] If we lose, it's like, "Ah,
the season's over. Everything's bad."
If we win, it's like, "Ah,
we're gonna win this thing."
It's a whole roller
coaster of emotions.
I can tell my sister By
the flowers in her eyes ♪
[commentator 1] He
flips. Booser's there.
And the Red Sox take the
opener in Kansas City.
Refsnyder goes back. Looks up.
It's gone.
[Cora] You don't want
them to struggle.
- Everybody sees the numbers.
- [Sean] There's no escaping it.
You start doubting yourself, wondering
if you're gonna figure it out.
It's so easy to be like, "If we push a
little harder, we can maybe do better."
- [groans]
- Sometimes that's your downfall.
Now you're putting more
pressure on yourself to do more.
- How does your light shine ♪
- [Cora] Ay-ay-ay.
In the halls of Shambala? ♪
Tell me, how does your light
shine In the halls of Shambala? ♪
Ah, ooh, ooh, ooh,
ooh, yeah, yeah… ♪
[Will] Swing and
a high fly ball.
- [Andrew] Come on, now!
- [Will] To the wall again, way up there.
And way, way gone.
And the ballgame is over.
Red Sox will fall by one, 5-4,
as the Astros take the
first two of the series.
[fading] Sha… Shambala ♪
[announcer] Each year, the Major League
Baseball Players Alumni Association
recognizes one player from
each Major League team
with the Heart & Hustle Award
for embodying the spirit,
values, and traditions
of America's favorite pastime.
And now, please welcome the Red Sox
winner of the 2024 Heart & Hustle award,
Jarren Duran.
[fans cheering]
- [indistinct]
- [announcer] Congratulations, Jarren.
- [crowd applauding]
- [stadium organ plays fanfare]
[commentator 1] Lots
of sunshine today.
Just perfect for game number three.
They've dropped three in a row.
Red Sox need the pitching to
keep the ball in the ballpark.
That's been a huge problem.
[expectant rock music plays]
[commentator 1] Paxton trying
to slow them down today
and, frankly, put
a stop to them.
Wraps that one on one hop.
But nobody there at the
bag, and he's gonna be safe.
[commentator 2] Oh no.
[commentator 1] Paxton
going down on a knee.
That's the reason he did
not get over to cover.
[commentator 2] Oh
man. This is not good.
This is not what this
pitching staff needed either.
[low, suspenseful music plays]
[commentator 1] James
Paxton hobbles off.
The guy you just acquired,
the guy you are relying
on the rest of the way.
That's a dark cloud immediately
on a beautiful day at Fenway.
[commentator 3] You have to find ways
to start winning games 'cause it's time.
[commentator 1] He has
started every game, all 116.
Determined to play in every
game, start every game.
- [fan] Swing the bat!
- [commentator 2] Alex Cora said it best.
If you wanna teach your
kids how to play the game,
have them watch number 16.
[commentator 1] He'll swing and
miss. Down he goes for strike three.
[fan] You want a tennis racket?!
[commentator 3] Here, lately, the
offense that was carrying this team
since the break, got real quiet.
[tense music plays]
[commentator 1] On to inning
five. Astros one, Sox nothing.
Red Sox have been forced
into a bullpen day
because of the early
injury to James Paxton.
A strained calf in
the first inning.
That was a gut punch
for Cora today.
A sliding effort by Hamilton.
Can't come up with it.
It's a base hit for León.
That leads off the fifth.
Here comes Houston,
and Bregman on the way.
[crowd murmurs]
[cheering]
[commentator 1] And
Alvarez to follow.
[crowd cheering]
- [tense music continues]
- [Astros fan] Yeah!
[crowd murmur]
[commentator 1] Off the green.
Another run is in.
Alvarez rounding third.
He's gonna score too.
That was a tight one, but the Astros with
seven runs over the last two innings.
And completely out of Fenway,
and another home run for Houston.
And they blow this wide open.
Houston bearing down
on a three-game sweep.
That would run the Red Sox
losing skid four straight.
- [crowd chants] Let's go, Red Sox!
- [clapping in unison]
- [crowd chants] Let's go, Red Sox!
- [clapping in unison]
[commentator 1] The Sox just trying
to break through here against Brown.
[commentator 2] Just
get something going.
[commentator 1] Duran
looking to put one in play.
He's gone 0 for 2 today.
Couple of strikeouts.
One and two.
- [tense music fades out]
- [crowd chattering]
[fan] Tennis racket! Tennis
racket! You need a tennis racket!
[Duran] Shut up,
you fucking faggot.
[low, foreboding music plays]
[Jen] I was in the press box wrapping
up game coverage from that day
when it came across
like a clip on Twitter.
- [fan] You need a tennis racket!
- [Duran] Shut up, you fucking faggot.
[Sean] He hears a guy
yelling, "Tennis racket!"
"You need a tennis
racket up there!"
Meaning that was his only
chance of making contact.
Kind of an innocuous comment.
Duran calls time,
steps out, turns
towards the fan,
and directs a
homophobic slur to him,
and then steps back into the
batter's box and finishes the at bat.
[fan] You might
be able to hit it.
We were recording the podcast when
the video is circulating on Twitter.
No, that was a fucking dumb thing to
say. Like, that was a dumb thing to say.
My first thought
was like, "Why?"
Like, "Why was that the first
word out of your mouth?"
There's just no place for that
language, and, like, don't be an idiot.
[Duran] Uh, before we get started,
I just wanted to kind of say
that, um, I've had some
fans reach out to me
and, um, tell me that
they're disappointed in me.
And I just wanted to let them
know that I'm sorry for my actions
and that I'm gonna work
on being better for them.
It was just a heckler heckling
me, you know, the entire game.
And I just let the… let the
moment get the best of me.
I just said something that
I shouldn't be saying.
[Sam] Duran made a horrific comment
that he shouldn't have made.
We all fall short of, um…
proper behavior at times.
I know I have.
And we need to keep
our emotions in check.
But from time to time,
they come out in a way that crosses
the line, is not appropriate.
And you better be damn sure
that you offer an apology
and you offer an apology
to the right people.
And I believe that usually you
get forgiveness when you do that.
We see that, you know,
Jarren, as a leader,
that he maybe is…
is also flawed.
And… and we all are. And…
and people make mistakes.
Um, and I think, you know, to Sam's
point, what matters is what happens now.
[Duran] I got, like, messages on
Instagram from, like, kids that were like,
"I know you didn't mean
that word in a bad way,
but it kinda, like, hurt my
feelings," and it was like a kid.
Seeing that, I was like, "Damn,
like, I let that kid down."
Having this conversation
and looking in his eyes,
and seeing, like, the pain
of, like, "Oh my God."
He wasn't concerned
with himself.
He was concerned… He's like, "Oh my
God. Like, I hurt so many people."
"People that looked up to me,
people that rooted for me,
I have hurt them."
Obviously, we know
about Jarren, right?
We're here to support him. We
don't have to overdo it, right?
Like, he knows that we're here for him,
so he won't be… he won't play two games.
Jarren Duran has been suspended two
games for hurling an anti-gay slur
at a fan during Sunday's
loss to the Astros.
Whether you're a professional
athlete or, you know, uh,
Joe Schmoe on the street,
it doesn't matter.
I mean, there's just certain things that
we don't tolerate here in this state.
[Speier] I think that that was
a really hard thing to see.
That it was so heartbreaking
that someone who has struggled with
questions of self-worth and doubt,
um, would use a term
that was so hurtful,
uh, to a vulnerable population
that can struggle so much with
self-worth and self-doubt.
[Cora] Just one
mistake by the kid
doesn't actually, uh… show who
we are or who he is, right?
You've talked a lot
about 162 being his goal,
um, you know, in terms of
that no longer being in play.
And… and… and the reason he's not
gonna play 162 is the right one.
You know? And… and he's
not gonna play 162.
[man 1] He puts a lot of
people in a tough position
that have, you know,
all year long said,
"Be like Jarren Duran.
Follow in his footsteps."
Whether you're a young player or
anyone trying to play baseball
that's a child or growing up,
you wanna be.
[man 2] Yeah. Don't
say shit like that. No.
Be better, be smarter.
And grow up a little bit,
[foreboding music fades out]
[Refsnyder] I just
wanna say, like,
I… I honestly believe our
offense is… is right there.
It's gonna be fucking
dangerous here soon.
I think the guys, the
ability, the talent,
like, the game planning is just
too good to keep going like this.
So I think it's easy to
kind of look where we're at
in the wild card and try
to win every single game,
you know, things like that,
and look ahead too much,
but I just want us to focus
on having good at bats.
And, uh, I think it's gonna
be fucking lethal here soon.
So just keep going, boys. If we
just win this game, keep going.
I think we're gonna
be in a good spot.
- [crowd murmuring]
- [announcer chatters]
[Joe] Top of the sixth
in a fast-moving game.
Two to one, Red Sox.
Houck got some very, very fast outs.
This next pitch will be his 80th.
[Ben] What day is it today?
Frozen treats and golf.
Frozen treats,
fucking creamsicle.
[Joe] Here's Garcia.
Fastball outside.
It's actual National Golf Month,
but today, they're already
recognizing golf month.
- [Andrew] Go, Tanner!
- [Joe] Game's moving along quickly.
And he swings it. It's one to left.
High and deep, back by the wall.
And it's gone into
the Monster seats.
[tense music plays]
There's his 19th homer.
We're tied at two.
That ball was still
rising, a high line drive.
Bottom of the sixth.
Two to two, the score.
Red Sox will have Abreu.
[Will] Red Sox trying to retake
the lead here against Texas.
And a high drive into right
center field, and it's back there.
- Sailing. She is gone!
- [Cora cheers]
[Will] Wilyer will
touch 'em all.
That didn't take long, and the
Red Sox are in front again, 3-2.
[player] Yuh-huh! Yeah!
[Joe] Boston leading the top
of the inning, regains it here.
[fans cheering, whistling]
[Joe] The Red Sox lead three to two,
even though they've had only four hits.
Yoshida's blooped a
single fly into center.
There's a ground ball
bounced left side.
And it's off the glove of
Seager. Goes into left field.
- [Andrew] Come on, boys. Let's go.
- [Cora] Good time.
- [Will] That'll be a base hit for Masa.
- [crowd cheering]
[Will] Here comes
Chafin, the lefty.
[cheers subside]
[tense music plays]
Raffy, first man to test him.
He's gone 0 for 2.
[Joe] Base hit at the gap
at right center field.
It's caught off on the
second out by Taveras.
Yoshida's well on his way
to third in their standing.
And the Red Sox have runners
at first and third here.
[tense music continues]
Pitch is swung, and high
to left center field.
Deep enough to get a run home.
[Will] And Raffy going… I
know where Raffy is going.
Raffy's trying to get back.
Yoshida looking to score.
- [crowd groans]
- [Will] But double up at first base.
And a big base-running
mistake there by Raffy Devers.
[Joe] Raffy must have
thought there were two outs.
- [Andrew] Come on, boys.
- [Will] That is it for the Red Sox.
[Andrew] A four-seam
if you need it.
Low, something like that. Get
up top, if you need it there.
Let the velo… let the velo play.
[commentator 1] New pitcher
for Boston is the newcomer,
the right-hander Luis García,
over the trade deadline from
the Angels, to Adolis Garcia.
He hit a line home run
into the Monster seats
in left center last time up.
- [music lifts]
- [Will] A high fly ball, this driven deep.
That went back there toward
the wall, way back there.
And Adolis into the Monster
seats. He strikes again.
[Morris] Another one?
Jesus Christ!
[Will] This becomes
a one-run game.
[Joe] Garcia's now given up
nine runs in six innings…
- …since joining the Red Sox.
- [commentator 1] He has not been good.
[Will] And with a third.
- Devers down. He's up. He skips it.
- [crowd cheers]
- He's not gonna get it there in time.
- [crowd groans]
[Andrew] Come on. Double
play. Ground ball.
[Will] Ground ball toward the hole,
picked again and from the knee,
he's gonna throw to first
base, and out of time.
[commentator 2] He had
a good play to stop it.
Just having kind
of a rough night.
Just has a look on his
face as if he's chagrined.
Marty and Winck. Get 'em going.
[commentator 1] So the Red
Sox leading four to three.
[Will] Texas tightening it up.
[tense music continues]
- He goes after it. High chopper.
- [music lifts]
- [Cora] The play!
- [crowd groans]
[Will] Hamilton misplays it!
- 1-1, will score.
- [music abates]
And they're gonna be
safe at first and third.
[commentator 2] It was booted on about
as easy a play as you'll ever have.
[Will] The Sox should
be out of the inning.
And this becomes a 4-4 game
on the defensive miscue.
[fans whistling]
[Will] Bottom of the eighth
inning, 4-4 at Fenway.
Jarren Duran looking to reach
base for the first time tonight,
his return after his
two-game suspension.
And he had played in all
of the club's first 116.
- [crowd cheers]
- [Morris] Wow. Some people are standing.
Like, because he's our player,
we're like, "It's okay."
"We'll support him."
But if he wasn't our player,
everybody would just be
booing the shit out of him.
There's gotta be a fine
line in the middle.
People should've
just made no noise.
Neither boos nor applause.
We give him the cold shoulder
until you show you can be better.
[fans cheering, whistling]
[suspenseful music plays]
[Will] And a line drive
right center to right field.
- [crowd cheering]
- [Will] Jarren Duran aboard.
That all-important lead off man
and with serious speed, obviously.
He's on to start the
bottom of the eighth.
[commentator 2] Duran the go-ahead
run at first. He has 29 stolen bases.
[Will] Will he run here and
get down into scoring position?
Holding.
- Swing and a miss. That one ate him up.
- [Cora] Go, go, go!
[Will] The runner's
gonna try and advance.
- [soundscape fades]
- [music continues]
- The throw, the tag. He is out!
- [crowd groans]
[Will] A strike him out, throw
him out. Just like that, two down.
[commentator 2] The
catcher throws out Duran.
Two outs and the bases empty.
And Fenway very quiet now
as Yoshida takes ball one.
And the Red Sox playing some bad
baseball here late in the game.
[Will] High fly ball.
Left center field, back toward
the wall. Backing up to Taveras.
- He is there to play it off the wall.
- [crowd cheering]
Masa into second base.
His third hit tonight.
He scampers in with a double.
[funky rock music plays]
[Joe] Yeah, Duran certainly
would've scored on that.
[Will] Wong now the runner at second,
representing the Red Sox's go-ahead run.
[commentator 2] They're
gonna walk Raffy Devers.
- Swing it, Masa. Swing it.
- [Cora] Well done, Masa. Swing it.
[Will] Danny Jansen
will be the batter.
[commentator 2] He's had some clutch
hits in his short time here in Boston.
Come on, Jano!
[Will] Two outs in a
4-4 game in the eighth.
[commentator 3] Doesn't need a
walk-off. Take care of it here.
[funky music continues]
[Will] Ground ball, two in the
hole. Through for a base hit.
Here comes Wong. Here
comes the throw home.
- He sailed it!
- [crowd cheers]
- [Will] And the Red Sox have the lead.
- [Cora shouts] Yo!
[Will] 5-4, Boston
in the eighth.
Danny Jansen with a base
hit through the hole.
And Langford just
airmailed the throw.
[commentator 3] And the
Red Sox take a 5-4 lead.
[funky music continues]
[Will] Hard hit. Got a piece
of the bag down the line.
[raucous cheering]
That scores two!
Gonzales into second.
And the Red Sox get all sorts
of breathing room. On top, 7-4.
[cheering continues]
[music abates]
[players cheering]
- [Andrew] Attaboy!
- [Cora] It's not over.
[crowd cheer]
[commentator 2] Pitch to Seager,
hit hard, ground ball, base hit.
[Will] That's how the inning
begins here in the ninth.
[low, expectant music plays]
Tying run in the on-deck
circle for Texas.
[Refsnyder] How about a little
ground-ball double play for the boys?
[Will] Bounding ball through for a
base hit. Josh Smith with a single.
[commentator 2] All of a
sudden, with nobody out,
they have the tying run
coming to the plate.
[Cora] Four, six, three.
[commentator 2]
Ground ball to second.
[Will] And to second, got one.
- Back to first.
- [crowd cheers]
[Will] He came off the
bag. No double play.
And the game continues.
[commentator 3] It would have
been game over but Gonzalez
had to come off the bag.
Been one of those
nights for the Red Sox.
Can they survive what has
not been a crisp performance?
Red Sox leading 7-4.
[commentator 2] One
more out to get.
Swing, and a high, deep drive.
- [soundscape fades]
- [expectant music continues]
[Will] Way, way back and gone
for a three-run homer.
And this game is tied at seven.
Wyatt Langford has tied it up
with two down in
the ninth inning.
[Dan] Goddamn it.
I cannot believe
that just happened.
[commentator 2] Unbelievable.
[commentator 3] Red Sox
had a double-play bouncer.
They couldn't turn it.
And the crowd's stunned.
[downcast music plays]
[Joe] Zack Kelly takes
over in the tenth inning.
[commentator 4] Extra innings, first
hitter's so important. Get this guy.
This first hitter's a big one.
[Joe] There's a drive hit to
right center field and deep.
Back to Abreu by the
bullpen. He jumps!
[Will] And it's into
the pen and gone.
Well, home runs tonight have
just killed the Sox. It is 9-7.
[commentator 2] It sure has.
[Morris] Man, this
game is sucking.
["That Summer Feeling" by
Jonathan Richman plays]
[commentator 2] One of those nights
when everything is a struggle.
[Joe] Very sloppy played
game on both ends, really.
That summer feeling That
summer feeling, that summer… ♪
[commentator 3] They've done
such a good job this year,
turning losses
into wins at times.
This one kinda feels
the other way around.
- [Will] Well, can the Red Sox do it again?
- Come on, Connor!
[commentator 3] Poor base running,
poor fielding, bad relief pitching.
- [Varitek and Cora] Swing it!
- [Joe] Very frustrating.
- [Will] And strikes him out.
- [Joe] Red Sox down to their last out.
The joy I've named
shall not be tamed ♪
And that summer feeling
Is gonna haunt you… ♪
[Will] That is the ballgame.
And that is a brutal loss for the Red
Sox. One of their worst of the season.
And if you wait
until you're older ♪
A sad resentment
will smolder one day… ♪
[commentator 3] Very somber crowd
filing out after an excruciating loss.
[commentator 4] This was a W,
you know, and gave this one away.
[Will] Now two games back
in that wild card race.
And then that summer feeling Is
gonna hurt you one day in your life ♪
Summer feeling,
summer feeling… ♪
[Joe] Any reasons why
this one got away?
- One that they really should have had.
- It's gonna haunt you ♪
- Summer feeling ♪
- One more time ♪
- [soundscape mutes]
- [somber instrumental music plays]
[somber music continues]
[music fades out]
[earth skitters]
- [baby giggles]
- [gulls calling]
[waves crashing]
[clicking]
- [commentator] Number 23.
- [crowd cheers]
[strings stab]
[cheering fades]
- [Cora] Go, TO!
- [player] Come on, TO!
[Will] Three and
two. Here it is.
Swing and a ground ball to third.
It's handled there by Rojas.
He throws across
the diamond in time.
Final score, ten
to six, Seattle.
The Red Sox defense just
not good enough tonight.
[somber, melodic music plays]
[Will] A lot of talk about
Duran playing in every game.
By the way, Duran's the
first Red Sox player
since Mo Vaughn to start
the Red Sox first 86 games.
And that was 28 years ago.
[commentator 1] Wow.
[Duran] See you, boys.
See you guys tomorrow.
See you, Tommy.
[commentator 2] I talked to guys in
the Minor Leagues, coaches, managers,
that say their kids watch
that guy play every day.
And they asked them, "You're in
Double-A, Triple-A. Why don't you?"
[fans cheering]
[man 1] Can I get a
picture? One last time!
- [woman 1] Thank you for signing my ball.
- [boy 1] Yay! Thank you.
- [man 1] Thank you!
- [Duran] Welcome.
- [woman 2] I love him.
- [boy 2] Everybody loves him.
Every single girl loves him.
[Duran] There you
go. No problem.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- [man 2] Sign my shoes?
- [Duran] You want me to sign your shoe?
- [man 2] Hell yeah.
- [woman 3] Random!
- On the white. On the white.
- [woman 3] But okay.
Thank you so much, man.
That's going on the shelf.
- [woman 4] I love your tattoos.
- [Duran] Thank you.
[woman 4] Thanks for being
such a great role model
for all the younger players too.
- [Duran] Of course.
- [man 3] Hey, Jarren, I love your hustle.
[Duran] Thank you so
much. I appreciate it.
- What's up, strangers? How you guys doing?
- You see us behind the dugout or no?
- [Duran] You sat behind the dugout?
- Yeah.
[Duran] Why would I look
behind? You never sit there.
We have… we have, like, a…
a little gift for you now.
- [Duran] Okay.
- And then Sunday's another one.
- [Duran] It's a keychain?
- [girls] Yeah.
- [girl] You had enough bracelets.
- [Duran] That's sick.
[girl] It matches your belt.
- [Duran] You noticed that?
- [girls] Yeah.
- [girl] We'll see you tomorrow.
- Guys, have a good one. Okay, sounds good.
Thank you.
[grunts]
[director] Is that every night?
Yeah, I do that every night.
If you guys want good
people to interview,
you should interview
those… that girl there.
[director] Okay. We… we got her.
- We understand they're coming with gifts.
- Yeah.
They… She is here
every single game.
Every single game.
- How's the wrist?
- [man 4] Better.
Yeah? Nice.
No more eagle lifting?
- [man 4] No. I'm still eagle lifting.
- No?
[laughs] I love that.
- All right.
- All right, bud. I'll see you.
Yeah, the Bronco… I mean,
obviously, you guys saw.
It was just giving me, like,
problems that I didn't really need.
So I was just looking for something,
like, I guess not more reliable,
but I've always wanted,
like, a faster car.
I've never really
had, like, a fast car.
But I've always liked
the Mitsubishi Evos
ever since Paul Walker was
driving one in Fast & Furious.
So…
I think the… the
thing that, like,
makes me, like, wanna go out
there and sign every day is that…
um, there's gonna
be, like, one kid
that I sign for, and it's
gonna make him so happy.
And I'm like… It would… it
would mean the world to me,
like, if I was to be able to
meet an idol when I was little.
So, like, that's how
I think about it.
I was like, "If I can just
go over there and sign
and, like, make somebody's day
that much better… for them,
like, I'm gonna go and do that."
And I've met some pretty awesome
people getting to do that every day.
So that makes me happy.
'Cause I tear myself down
so much in this game.
I tell myself how much
I suck every single day.
And then to be able to see,
like, the smile on their faces
really brings me
back down to earth.
[mellow music plays]
[Andrew] Hey, how'd the
cambio feel yesterday?
- [Bello] Better today than
- [Andrew] What'd you… what'd you do?
This.
- I did a fastball like this.
- [Andrew] Okay.
- Just throw.
- [Andrew] Okay.
- [thwack]
- [Andrew in Spanish] Damn!
[in English] I love Brayan.
He's a naturally good pitcher.
You like more depth, right?
He's blessed with, you know, the
physical capability to do so.
- That's normal?
- Yeah.
But we're going through a
moment of performance issues.
And that's okay.
And, you know, we just need
him to go out and compete
and be the pitcher he is.
Brayan, let me know if you're
open to trying some things today
for the cambio.
- [in Spanish] Did you understand?
- [Bello] Yes.
[melodic, expectant music plays]
Oh my God. I throw it
out, and it goes in.
I throw it in, it goes out.
[Andrew in English] What are
we frustrated with? Location?
[Bello in Spanish]
Missing a lot.
[in English] "Missing."
[Andrew] Have you tried
down here… a little bit?
- [Bello] The changeup's okay?
- [Andrew] Yeah.
[Bello exhales deeply]
[thwack]
- [Andrew] Just looking.
- [Bello groans]
[Andrew] You're okay.
This top seam needs to come down a
little bit, about… ten… ten degrees.
Failure is going to lead us to
the right answer and success.
But we have to be able to create the
space to work through that to get there.
[music continues]
[commentator 1] Good afternoon,
everybody, from Fenway Park in Boston
for the rubber game of
this three-game series
between the Red Sox and
the Seattle Mariners.
[commentator 2] We're knotted
up 1-1, last game of the series.
Two teams battling
for the wild card.
Red Sox trying to end the
month of July on a big uptick.
Man, do they need a win.
Haven't won a series since
prior to the All-Star break.
[commentator 3] I think some of that
could be it's getting towards August.
I mean, it's the dog days of August
where the nerves are getting there,
their legs are tired, not
moving as well as they were.
[Varitek] National fucking avocado
day. You fucking like your superfoods.
[O'Neill] I fucking hate avocado
though. Fucks up my stomach real bad.
Jeez-o-Pete, can you
fucking eat anything?
I know, right? Chicken
and rice, baby.
[commentator 2] Craig
Breslow has been adamant
that the Red Sox
would pick a lane.
They did. They bought.
They added Danny Jansen
and James Paxton,
two right-handed bullpen arms.
Lucas Sims from the Reds and
Luis García from the LA Angels.
So you came to the deadline.
You needed help in the
bullpen. They got that.
People might not think Danny Jansen's
some high-dollar right-handed hitter,
but they addressed that need.
- [crowd cheers]
- [Andrew] Yes!
[player shouts indistinctly]
- [commentator 2] Danny Jansen…
- [Andrew] Yeah!
[cheering continues]
[commentator 2] And a meaningful
moment for the new guy. A 2-2 tie.
[ethereal, expectant
music plays]
[commentator 1] Brayan
Bello is ready to go.
[Andrew] Yeah!
[commentator 2] Ninety-seven miles
an hour to strike out Vosler.
[commentator 3] This is what
you want Brayan Bello to be.
The difference right now is
experience, location, confidence.
[Jansen] Let's go, baby. You
better get this motherfucker here.
- Let's get this guy.
- [Bello] What you wanna throw first pitch?
[Jansen] I like
your sinker down.
You wanna go backdoor slider first?
That's fine. Let's get it out there.
Let's get this fucker on the
ground, get a double play.
- [Bello] Let's go, man.
- You sure?
- [Bello] Yeah, let's go.
- [Jansen] Let's go.
[Bello in Spanish] Let's go.
- [soundscape fades]
- [music continues]
[commentator 2 in English] Swing, a
miss with the change to strike him out.
- The inning is over. Nice job by Bello.
- [commentator 4] Is that enough?
Because this team,
in the last couple years,
really stumbled in August.
[commentator 1] Sims.
And his pitch is
bounced down to third.
Routine play. Devers wins
the race to third base.
And that ends the inning.
Nice debut for Lucas Sims.
[commentator 3] Steve,
I would say that…
I mean, I'm not, like,
dying and pissed off
if I'm in that clubhouse,
but I'm also not jumping
around like we got Verlander.
But I'd still say
you're satisfied, right?
Like, you dipped your toe in it.
You know, you got a little taste
of it, and you added some arms.
I think he did enough to give this team
a fighting chance here down the stretch.
[commentator 2] They go to
the home half of the tenth.
Rex Sox with a chance to win
it. Tied at two with Seattle.
The automatic runner at
second base is Tyler O'Neill.
[bass guitar music plays]
[commentator 2] The pressure
continues to fall on Raffy Devers.
He's their best player.
And if Casas were in the lineup,
some of the pressure
would fall on him too, so…
[commentator 1] Will they pitch to
Rafael Devers with first base open?
Looks like they will.
[commentator 2] I don't get it. Why
would you pitch to Devers in any way?
And then they get a lefty
with Refsnyder on deck.
[commentator 1] Two-nothing.
Swing and a fly ball, left
center field, well hit.
Raley's back there, all
the way to the wall.
- It's off the wall! Here comes the run!
- [crowd cheering]
Here comes O'Neill!
He will score. Raffy delivers.
And the Red Sox win it
at ten, three to two.
[cheering continues]
[commentator 3] They
needed that, didn't they?
Raffy Devers comes through. The
man has been absolutely on fire.
Left on left.
Big hit from Devers.
And this team gets a real big
win and, more importantly,
wins the season series
against the Seattle team.
[commentator 1] And win it
in thrilling fashion here
by a final score
of three to two.
[Andrew] Hell of a job, boys!
Nice job. Nice job. Nice job.
Fucking A. Oh yeah.
[commentator 1] And the Red
Sox with a big celebration.
[commentator 2] Bello
really set the tone.
I thought he looked really sharp
and it's something to build off of
because that was a really
nice outing for him.
I think they're
optimistic about Casas.
Now personally, I think he needs
a couple of weeks down in rehab,
but it doesn't sound
like it's gonna be long.
[commentator 1] Well, terrific win,
and some wins mean more than others.
- They just do.
- [up-tempo music plays]
[Mazz] A night like last
night should give you
just a little tingle to make
you think, "You know what?"
"This team's gonna hang
around. They can fight."
Alex Cora called it sustainable.
Now you get into
August, post deadline.
Every game matters.
Every pitch matters.
This is when baseball
starts to get good.
This is when you have the meaningful
games with the meaningful pitches,
the meaningful at bats,
and the significant catches.
All that stuff, it matters now.
So what the hell is taking Triston Casas
so long to come back to the big leagues?
[music fades out]
[Casas huffs]
[Casas] There is a
burden with success…
Fucker.
…and with failure.
When you're successful, people
expect a lot out of you.
Damn. My fucking hand hurts.
I show up on time. I give my
best effort every single day.
What everybody can
at least acknowledge
in my routine is my
consistency about it.
I think that's what's, uh, you know,
gonna put us in the best position to win.
I'm gonna go and do it.
It hurts to breathe, like,
when I get to like 75
percent capacity, I feel it.
I could get to 100,
but that last 25 percent, it
feels like somebody's stabbing me.
[Joe] We hoped he'd
be back by now,
but that's a very tough injury
when you tear a rib cage.
I'm sure it's worse
than a broken rib.
But, uh, hopefully he's back
sometime mid-August. Just a guess.
[man] Alex Cora said that
the rehab process for Triston
is really about what
Triston dictates.
[woman] Casas giving
conflicting reports.
He tells Chris Cotillo he
feels pretty fine for MassLive.
Then he goes over
to the NESN reporter
and says he feels like he's
getting stabbed by knives.
[Cora] I had a good conversation
with Triston. He's fine.
Obviously, he will feel it,
but it's not like what he was
feeling before he went on the IL.
[Refsnyder] When's Triston back?
- Soon.
- Fuck.
People realize that we
have six weeks left.
You can chill in six
weeks if you need to.
Right.
[Mazz] The timing for the Red Sox
to make the playoffs is dwindling.
You can't do what's best for you. You
gotta do what's best for your team.
Get your ass back in the lineup.
People are gonna have their own opinions
about me and how I go about my things.
And I'm comfortable knowing
that I'm giving my best effort
every single day.
[birds chirping]
[Peter] Billy Bean used to
describe the season as this.
The first two months are spent
optimistically finding out what you have.
The next two months are spent
getting what you think you need.
And then, on the 1st August,
when the trading deadline's over,
all right, now you play.
[player 1] Fuck it.
Take a full swing.
- Take a full swing?
- [player 2] No!
- Take a full swing?
- [player 3] Yeah!
[player 4] Jesus Christ,
Kenley. Please! No!
[player 5] Go, go, go!
[player 3] Fore!
[sharp clang]
- I can't fucking do it! Fuck!
- [players laughing]
[Sean] The start of the
season held a lot of promise.
So there was a feel-good element
to the team around mid-season.
- [player 4] No!
- Take one for the fucking team!
[player 4] No!
- [Kenley] Yeah!
- [player 4] No!
Maybe I break one shit, we're
gonna fucking win the World Series.
[player 4] Don't do it!
[clatter]
[Sean] Since the All-Star break,
I think a lot of things
caught up to the Red Sox.
They call August the dog days of the
season, and they don't do it for nothing.
["Shambala" by Three
Dog Night plays]
- [man 1] It's meaningful games in August.
- Fuck, it's hot!
[man 1] In this stretch, 19 games where
16 are against nothing but contenders.
[man 2] You said it.
These next three weeks are gonna
be a big-time test for the Sox.
Dude, it is hot.
[Garrett] Late
July, angry August.
That's the dog days.
That's when it's like,
"Dude, I'm 100 games
into this thing."
"How the heck am I
gonna turn this around?"
Wash away my troubles
Wash away my pain ♪
With the rain in Shambala… ♪
Fucking muggy out there.
Wash away my sorrow
Wash away my shame… ♪
- [commentator 1] That ball is gone.
- With the rain in Shambala ♪
[cheering]
[Varitek] Hey! You know what we got
today? National Extraterrestrial Day.
Phone home, bitch.
[Will] It's flying!
[commentator 2] My
goodness gracious.
National fucking all-or-nothing today.
Whatever you got, just give it to me.
Go.
Everyone is helpful,
everyone is kind… ♪
You did everything you could.
That's a fucking really good at bat.
Everyone is lucky,
everyone is so kind ♪
On the road to Shambala ♪
[Varitek] Getting
through the long season,
there's a mental stability
to being able to last.
It's about what you can do
to put them in situations
to bring out their
best version of them.
So we got National
Climb a Mountain Day.
I want balls hit over
the fucking mountain.
I need fucking mountain balls!
- How does your light shine ♪
- [crowd cheers]
- In the halls of Shambala? ♪
- [Andrew] Nice one, T!
- How does your light shine ♪
- [crowd cheers]
In the halls of Shambala? ♪
[Garrett] If we lose, it's like, "Ah,
the season's over. Everything's bad."
If we win, it's like, "Ah,
we're gonna win this thing."
It's a whole roller
coaster of emotions.
I can tell my sister By
the flowers in her eyes ♪
[commentator 1] He
flips. Booser's there.
And the Red Sox take the
opener in Kansas City.
Refsnyder goes back. Looks up.
It's gone.
[Cora] You don't want
them to struggle.
- Everybody sees the numbers.
- [Sean] There's no escaping it.
You start doubting yourself, wondering
if you're gonna figure it out.
It's so easy to be like, "If we push a
little harder, we can maybe do better."
- [groans]
- Sometimes that's your downfall.
Now you're putting more
pressure on yourself to do more.
- How does your light shine ♪
- [Cora] Ay-ay-ay.
In the halls of Shambala? ♪
Tell me, how does your light
shine In the halls of Shambala? ♪
Ah, ooh, ooh, ooh,
ooh, yeah, yeah… ♪
[Will] Swing and
a high fly ball.
- [Andrew] Come on, now!
- [Will] To the wall again, way up there.
And way, way gone.
And the ballgame is over.
Red Sox will fall by one, 5-4,
as the Astros take the
first two of the series.
[fading] Sha… Shambala ♪
[announcer] Each year, the Major League
Baseball Players Alumni Association
recognizes one player from
each Major League team
with the Heart & Hustle Award
for embodying the spirit,
values, and traditions
of America's favorite pastime.
And now, please welcome the Red Sox
winner of the 2024 Heart & Hustle award,
Jarren Duran.
[fans cheering]
- [indistinct]
- [announcer] Congratulations, Jarren.
- [crowd applauding]
- [stadium organ plays fanfare]
[commentator 1] Lots
of sunshine today.
Just perfect for game number three.
They've dropped three in a row.
Red Sox need the pitching to
keep the ball in the ballpark.
That's been a huge problem.
[expectant rock music plays]
[commentator 1] Paxton trying
to slow them down today
and, frankly, put
a stop to them.
Wraps that one on one hop.
But nobody there at the
bag, and he's gonna be safe.
[commentator 2] Oh no.
[commentator 1] Paxton
going down on a knee.
That's the reason he did
not get over to cover.
[commentator 2] Oh
man. This is not good.
This is not what this
pitching staff needed either.
[low, suspenseful music plays]
[commentator 1] James
Paxton hobbles off.
The guy you just acquired,
the guy you are relying
on the rest of the way.
That's a dark cloud immediately
on a beautiful day at Fenway.
[commentator 3] You have to find ways
to start winning games 'cause it's time.
[commentator 1] He has
started every game, all 116.
Determined to play in every
game, start every game.
- [fan] Swing the bat!
- [commentator 2] Alex Cora said it best.
If you wanna teach your
kids how to play the game,
have them watch number 16.
[commentator 1] He'll swing and
miss. Down he goes for strike three.
[fan] You want a tennis racket?!
[commentator 3] Here, lately, the
offense that was carrying this team
since the break, got real quiet.
[tense music plays]
[commentator 1] On to inning
five. Astros one, Sox nothing.
Red Sox have been forced
into a bullpen day
because of the early
injury to James Paxton.
A strained calf in
the first inning.
That was a gut punch
for Cora today.
A sliding effort by Hamilton.
Can't come up with it.
It's a base hit for León.
That leads off the fifth.
Here comes Houston,
and Bregman on the way.
[crowd murmurs]
[cheering]
[commentator 1] And
Alvarez to follow.
[crowd cheering]
- [tense music continues]
- [Astros fan] Yeah!
[crowd murmur]
[commentator 1] Off the green.
Another run is in.
Alvarez rounding third.
He's gonna score too.
That was a tight one, but the Astros with
seven runs over the last two innings.
And completely out of Fenway,
and another home run for Houston.
And they blow this wide open.
Houston bearing down
on a three-game sweep.
That would run the Red Sox
losing skid four straight.
- [crowd chants] Let's go, Red Sox!
- [clapping in unison]
- [crowd chants] Let's go, Red Sox!
- [clapping in unison]
[commentator 1] The Sox just trying
to break through here against Brown.
[commentator 2] Just
get something going.
[commentator 1] Duran
looking to put one in play.
He's gone 0 for 2 today.
Couple of strikeouts.
One and two.
- [tense music fades out]
- [crowd chattering]
[fan] Tennis racket! Tennis
racket! You need a tennis racket!
[Duran] Shut up,
you fucking faggot.
[low, foreboding music plays]
[Jen] I was in the press box wrapping
up game coverage from that day
when it came across
like a clip on Twitter.
- [fan] You need a tennis racket!
- [Duran] Shut up, you fucking faggot.
[Sean] He hears a guy
yelling, "Tennis racket!"
"You need a tennis
racket up there!"
Meaning that was his only
chance of making contact.
Kind of an innocuous comment.
Duran calls time,
steps out, turns
towards the fan,
and directs a
homophobic slur to him,
and then steps back into the
batter's box and finishes the at bat.
[fan] You might
be able to hit it.
We were recording the podcast when
the video is circulating on Twitter.
No, that was a fucking dumb thing to
say. Like, that was a dumb thing to say.
My first thought
was like, "Why?"
Like, "Why was that the first
word out of your mouth?"
There's just no place for that
language, and, like, don't be an idiot.
[Duran] Uh, before we get started,
I just wanted to kind of say
that, um, I've had some
fans reach out to me
and, um, tell me that
they're disappointed in me.
And I just wanted to let them
know that I'm sorry for my actions
and that I'm gonna work
on being better for them.
It was just a heckler heckling
me, you know, the entire game.
And I just let the… let the
moment get the best of me.
I just said something that
I shouldn't be saying.
[Sam] Duran made a horrific comment
that he shouldn't have made.
We all fall short of, um…
proper behavior at times.
I know I have.
And we need to keep
our emotions in check.
But from time to time,
they come out in a way that crosses
the line, is not appropriate.
And you better be damn sure
that you offer an apology
and you offer an apology
to the right people.
And I believe that usually you
get forgiveness when you do that.
We see that, you know,
Jarren, as a leader,
that he maybe is…
is also flawed.
And… and we all are. And…
and people make mistakes.
Um, and I think, you know, to Sam's
point, what matters is what happens now.
[Duran] I got, like, messages on
Instagram from, like, kids that were like,
"I know you didn't mean
that word in a bad way,
but it kinda, like, hurt my
feelings," and it was like a kid.
Seeing that, I was like, "Damn,
like, I let that kid down."
Having this conversation
and looking in his eyes,
and seeing, like, the pain
of, like, "Oh my God."
He wasn't concerned
with himself.
He was concerned… He's like, "Oh my
God. Like, I hurt so many people."
"People that looked up to me,
people that rooted for me,
I have hurt them."
Obviously, we know
about Jarren, right?
We're here to support him. We
don't have to overdo it, right?
Like, he knows that we're here for him,
so he won't be… he won't play two games.
Jarren Duran has been suspended two
games for hurling an anti-gay slur
at a fan during Sunday's
loss to the Astros.
Whether you're a professional
athlete or, you know, uh,
Joe Schmoe on the street,
it doesn't matter.
I mean, there's just certain things that
we don't tolerate here in this state.
[Speier] I think that that was
a really hard thing to see.
That it was so heartbreaking
that someone who has struggled with
questions of self-worth and doubt,
um, would use a term
that was so hurtful,
uh, to a vulnerable population
that can struggle so much with
self-worth and self-doubt.
[Cora] Just one
mistake by the kid
doesn't actually, uh… show who
we are or who he is, right?
You've talked a lot
about 162 being his goal,
um, you know, in terms of
that no longer being in play.
And… and… and the reason he's not
gonna play 162 is the right one.
You know? And… and he's
not gonna play 162.
[man 1] He puts a lot of
people in a tough position
that have, you know,
all year long said,
"Be like Jarren Duran.
Follow in his footsteps."
Whether you're a young player or
anyone trying to play baseball
that's a child or growing up,
you wanna be.
[man 2] Yeah. Don't
say shit like that. No.
Be better, be smarter.
And grow up a little bit,
[foreboding music fades out]
[Refsnyder] I just
wanna say, like,
I… I honestly believe our
offense is… is right there.
It's gonna be fucking
dangerous here soon.
I think the guys, the
ability, the talent,
like, the game planning is just
too good to keep going like this.
So I think it's easy to
kind of look where we're at
in the wild card and try
to win every single game,
you know, things like that,
and look ahead too much,
but I just want us to focus
on having good at bats.
And, uh, I think it's gonna
be fucking lethal here soon.
So just keep going, boys. If we
just win this game, keep going.
I think we're gonna
be in a good spot.
- [crowd murmuring]
- [announcer chatters]
[Joe] Top of the sixth
in a fast-moving game.
Two to one, Red Sox.
Houck got some very, very fast outs.
This next pitch will be his 80th.
[Ben] What day is it today?
Frozen treats and golf.
Frozen treats,
fucking creamsicle.
[Joe] Here's Garcia.
Fastball outside.
It's actual National Golf Month,
but today, they're already
recognizing golf month.
- [Andrew] Go, Tanner!
- [Joe] Game's moving along quickly.
And he swings it. It's one to left.
High and deep, back by the wall.
And it's gone into
the Monster seats.
[tense music plays]
There's his 19th homer.
We're tied at two.
That ball was still
rising, a high line drive.
Bottom of the sixth.
Two to two, the score.
Red Sox will have Abreu.
[Will] Red Sox trying to retake
the lead here against Texas.
And a high drive into right
center field, and it's back there.
- Sailing. She is gone!
- [Cora cheers]
[Will] Wilyer will
touch 'em all.
That didn't take long, and the
Red Sox are in front again, 3-2.
[player] Yuh-huh! Yeah!
[Joe] Boston leading the top
of the inning, regains it here.
[fans cheering, whistling]
[Joe] The Red Sox lead three to two,
even though they've had only four hits.
Yoshida's blooped a
single fly into center.
There's a ground ball
bounced left side.
And it's off the glove of
Seager. Goes into left field.
- [Andrew] Come on, boys. Let's go.
- [Cora] Good time.
- [Will] That'll be a base hit for Masa.
- [crowd cheering]
[Will] Here comes
Chafin, the lefty.
[cheers subside]
[tense music plays]
Raffy, first man to test him.
He's gone 0 for 2.
[Joe] Base hit at the gap
at right center field.
It's caught off on the
second out by Taveras.
Yoshida's well on his way
to third in their standing.
And the Red Sox have runners
at first and third here.
[tense music continues]
Pitch is swung, and high
to left center field.
Deep enough to get a run home.
[Will] And Raffy going… I
know where Raffy is going.
Raffy's trying to get back.
Yoshida looking to score.
- [crowd groans]
- [Will] But double up at first base.
And a big base-running
mistake there by Raffy Devers.
[Joe] Raffy must have
thought there were two outs.
- [Andrew] Come on, boys.
- [Will] That is it for the Red Sox.
[Andrew] A four-seam
if you need it.
Low, something like that. Get
up top, if you need it there.
Let the velo… let the velo play.
[commentator 1] New pitcher
for Boston is the newcomer,
the right-hander Luis García,
over the trade deadline from
the Angels, to Adolis Garcia.
He hit a line home run
into the Monster seats
in left center last time up.
- [music lifts]
- [Will] A high fly ball, this driven deep.
That went back there toward
the wall, way back there.
And Adolis into the Monster
seats. He strikes again.
[Morris] Another one?
Jesus Christ!
[Will] This becomes
a one-run game.
[Joe] Garcia's now given up
nine runs in six innings…
- …since joining the Red Sox.
- [commentator 1] He has not been good.
[Will] And with a third.
- Devers down. He's up. He skips it.
- [crowd cheers]
- He's not gonna get it there in time.
- [crowd groans]
[Andrew] Come on. Double
play. Ground ball.
[Will] Ground ball toward the hole,
picked again and from the knee,
he's gonna throw to first
base, and out of time.
[commentator 2] He had
a good play to stop it.
Just having kind
of a rough night.
Just has a look on his
face as if he's chagrined.
Marty and Winck. Get 'em going.
[commentator 1] So the Red
Sox leading four to three.
[Will] Texas tightening it up.
[tense music continues]
- He goes after it. High chopper.
- [music lifts]
- [Cora] The play!
- [crowd groans]
[Will] Hamilton misplays it!
- 1-1, will score.
- [music abates]
And they're gonna be
safe at first and third.
[commentator 2] It was booted on about
as easy a play as you'll ever have.
[Will] The Sox should
be out of the inning.
And this becomes a 4-4 game
on the defensive miscue.
[fans whistling]
[Will] Bottom of the eighth
inning, 4-4 at Fenway.
Jarren Duran looking to reach
base for the first time tonight,
his return after his
two-game suspension.
And he had played in all
of the club's first 116.
- [crowd cheers]
- [Morris] Wow. Some people are standing.
Like, because he's our player,
we're like, "It's okay."
"We'll support him."
But if he wasn't our player,
everybody would just be
booing the shit out of him.
There's gotta be a fine
line in the middle.
People should've
just made no noise.
Neither boos nor applause.
We give him the cold shoulder
until you show you can be better.
[fans cheering, whistling]
[suspenseful music plays]
[Will] And a line drive
right center to right field.
- [crowd cheering]
- [Will] Jarren Duran aboard.
That all-important lead off man
and with serious speed, obviously.
He's on to start the
bottom of the eighth.
[commentator 2] Duran the go-ahead
run at first. He has 29 stolen bases.
[Will] Will he run here and
get down into scoring position?
Holding.
- Swing and a miss. That one ate him up.
- [Cora] Go, go, go!
[Will] The runner's
gonna try and advance.
- [soundscape fades]
- [music continues]
- The throw, the tag. He is out!
- [crowd groans]
[Will] A strike him out, throw
him out. Just like that, two down.
[commentator 2] The
catcher throws out Duran.
Two outs and the bases empty.
And Fenway very quiet now
as Yoshida takes ball one.
And the Red Sox playing some bad
baseball here late in the game.
[Will] High fly ball.
Left center field, back toward
the wall. Backing up to Taveras.
- He is there to play it off the wall.
- [crowd cheering]
Masa into second base.
His third hit tonight.
He scampers in with a double.
[funky rock music plays]
[Joe] Yeah, Duran certainly
would've scored on that.
[Will] Wong now the runner at second,
representing the Red Sox's go-ahead run.
[commentator 2] They're
gonna walk Raffy Devers.
- Swing it, Masa. Swing it.
- [Cora] Well done, Masa. Swing it.
[Will] Danny Jansen
will be the batter.
[commentator 2] He's had some clutch
hits in his short time here in Boston.
Come on, Jano!
[Will] Two outs in a
4-4 game in the eighth.
[commentator 3] Doesn't need a
walk-off. Take care of it here.
[funky music continues]
[Will] Ground ball, two in the
hole. Through for a base hit.
Here comes Wong. Here
comes the throw home.
- He sailed it!
- [crowd cheers]
- [Will] And the Red Sox have the lead.
- [Cora shouts] Yo!
[Will] 5-4, Boston
in the eighth.
Danny Jansen with a base
hit through the hole.
And Langford just
airmailed the throw.
[commentator 3] And the
Red Sox take a 5-4 lead.
[funky music continues]
[Will] Hard hit. Got a piece
of the bag down the line.
[raucous cheering]
That scores two!
Gonzales into second.
And the Red Sox get all sorts
of breathing room. On top, 7-4.
[cheering continues]
[music abates]
[players cheering]
- [Andrew] Attaboy!
- [Cora] It's not over.
[crowd cheer]
[commentator 2] Pitch to Seager,
hit hard, ground ball, base hit.
[Will] That's how the inning
begins here in the ninth.
[low, expectant music plays]
Tying run in the on-deck
circle for Texas.
[Refsnyder] How about a little
ground-ball double play for the boys?
[Will] Bounding ball through for a
base hit. Josh Smith with a single.
[commentator 2] All of a
sudden, with nobody out,
they have the tying run
coming to the plate.
[Cora] Four, six, three.
[commentator 2]
Ground ball to second.
[Will] And to second, got one.
- Back to first.
- [crowd cheers]
[Will] He came off the
bag. No double play.
And the game continues.
[commentator 3] It would have
been game over but Gonzalez
had to come off the bag.
Been one of those
nights for the Red Sox.
Can they survive what has
not been a crisp performance?
Red Sox leading 7-4.
[commentator 2] One
more out to get.
Swing, and a high, deep drive.
- [soundscape fades]
- [expectant music continues]
[Will] Way, way back and gone
for a three-run homer.
And this game is tied at seven.
Wyatt Langford has tied it up
with two down in
the ninth inning.
[Dan] Goddamn it.
I cannot believe
that just happened.
[commentator 2] Unbelievable.
[commentator 3] Red Sox
had a double-play bouncer.
They couldn't turn it.
And the crowd's stunned.
[downcast music plays]
[Joe] Zack Kelly takes
over in the tenth inning.
[commentator 4] Extra innings, first
hitter's so important. Get this guy.
This first hitter's a big one.
[Joe] There's a drive hit to
right center field and deep.
Back to Abreu by the
bullpen. He jumps!
[Will] And it's into
the pen and gone.
Well, home runs tonight have
just killed the Sox. It is 9-7.
[commentator 2] It sure has.
[Morris] Man, this
game is sucking.
["That Summer Feeling" by
Jonathan Richman plays]
[commentator 2] One of those nights
when everything is a struggle.
[Joe] Very sloppy played
game on both ends, really.
That summer feeling That
summer feeling, that summer… ♪
[commentator 3] They've done
such a good job this year,
turning losses
into wins at times.
This one kinda feels
the other way around.
- [Will] Well, can the Red Sox do it again?
- Come on, Connor!
[commentator 3] Poor base running,
poor fielding, bad relief pitching.
- [Varitek and Cora] Swing it!
- [Joe] Very frustrating.
- [Will] And strikes him out.
- [Joe] Red Sox down to their last out.
The joy I've named
shall not be tamed ♪
And that summer feeling
Is gonna haunt you… ♪
[Will] That is the ballgame.
And that is a brutal loss for the Red
Sox. One of their worst of the season.
And if you wait
until you're older ♪
A sad resentment
will smolder one day… ♪
[commentator 3] Very somber crowd
filing out after an excruciating loss.
[commentator 4] This was a W,
you know, and gave this one away.
[Will] Now two games back
in that wild card race.
And then that summer feeling Is
gonna hurt you one day in your life ♪
Summer feeling,
summer feeling… ♪
[Joe] Any reasons why
this one got away?
- One that they really should have had.
- It's gonna haunt you ♪
- Summer feeling ♪
- One more time ♪
- [soundscape mutes]
- [somber instrumental music plays]
[somber music continues]
[music fades out]
[earth skitters]
- [baby giggles]
- [gulls calling]
[waves crashing]
[clicking]
- [commentator] Number 23.
- [crowd cheers]
[strings stab]
[cheering fades]