By TERRY LYONS, Editor in Chief
BOSTON – Screw Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and here’s a hearty New England welcome to “The Proclaimers.“
If you were around in 1988 and buying records in the United Kingdom, all the kids’ pounds (£) were being plunked down in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen for a catchy little tune that made it to No. 11 on the charts.
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” was the song and it was released in August of that year, placed on an album called, “Sunshine on Leith.”
Apparently, the Toronto Blue Jays and Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman didn’t buy the album, as Chapman – the closer of closers – came to the mound at Fenway with the score tied, 3-3, in the top of the ninth inning. He was in for the hold, really, with Boston interim manager Chad Tracy dreaming of a come-from-behind victory on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon when 32,027 fans packed the tiny ballpark. And, yes, about 5,000 of those fans had first-hand connections to the Scottish National soccer team who will play their second of three World Cup preliminary games at “Boston Stadium” in Foxborough on Friday night. They were all singing 500 Miles and they were lit.
Fenway’s game ops people have jumped on the Scottish bandwagon since Sunday night when a (literal) parade of Scots in kilts marched to Fenway from the Fens, playing bagpipes and singing their favorite tunes. “Sweet Caroline” is not one of them, as that particular song has been co-opted by England’s footy team, so the Scots sit it out when the Fenway faithful sing-a-long in the middle of the eighth, as per usual.
Scotland’s fans have fallen in love with Boston, mainly because the locals have been buying the sons and daughters of Scotland cold beers to act as a gesture of hospitality to make up for the ridiculous price-gouging by the trains, planes and automobile prices to get from Boston to the hinterlands of what was formerly known as Gillette Stadium – located someplace west of Boston and east of Providence. There’s talk of Glasgow and Boston becoming sister-cities.
Somewhat fueled by a raucous Boston crowd, singing and dancing and carrying on in the middle of the 8th inning, Boston shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and third baseman Caleb Durbin hit back-to-back solo home runs to lead-off the home half of the eighth and tie the score at 3-all, knotting what had been a 3-1 Toronto Blue Jays crusher and another loss at home.
But, the Scots and The Proclaimers sang of “Walking 500 Miles” in a song expressing a deep commitment to love, and emphasizing the lengths one would go to for a partner, a fan, maybe a teammate?
It just wasn’t meant to be when Toronto’s second baseman Ernie Clement got onboard with an infield hit in the ninth. With two outs, Blue Jays back-up catcher Brandon Valenzuela drove in the game-winning run with a double down the left field line to score Clement from first base and put the Jays up, 4-3.
The run earned Toronto its second series sweep and sent the Red Sox packing for Seattle as losers of four straight, and eight of 10. The Sox were swept in a series for the fifth time this season, including the third time at home. Boston is now (29-43) and in last place in the American League East, 16 games off the lead, while the Jays are mired in third place in the AL East at (37-38).
Chapman took the loss (0-2) after starter Sonny Gray went a season high 7.0 IP and 89 pitches (63 strikes). Gray let up three earned runs and six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Toronto’s starter, Trey Yesavage pitched a strong, career-high 7.1 innings, giving up only four hits with the three earned runs and six strikeouts. Reliever Tommy Nance was credited with the victory, his first of the season against two losses. Blue Jays reliver Mason Fluharty earned the save, his first, against two losses.
The loss dropped Boston record against AL East teams to (6-17) as they have lost each of their last seven games to divisional opponents, dating back to June 7 at New York (Yankees). It was Toronto’s first series sweep of the Sox since September 15-17, 2023.
Boston jets off to Seattle for a three-game set (Friday to Sunday), then continues to Colorado for three games, scheduled June 22 to 24. The Red Sox return home, without their friends from Scotland, for a four-game series against the AL division leading Yankees, June 25-28.