Never Give Up, and Wear a Baseball Cap!

Check out the unbelievable post game wrap up of the May 2nd battle between the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the hometown Boston Red Sox from Fenway Park on MLB.com!

One of the most inspiring events of the season took place in the bottom of the fifth inning as Bosox second baseman Dustin Pedroia engaged with Angels' ace pitcher and American League Cy Young favourite Jered Weaver in a suspenseful 13-pitch duel that tipped the balance of the game towards the Red Sox, who trailed 2-1 before the epic at-bat.
"That's what he does," Weaver said. "He's a great hitter. He didn't win the MVP a few years ago for nothing. He's a bulldog." -Angels pitcher Jered Weaver on Dustin Pedroia

There was a buildup that led to Pedroia's heroic stand: Weaver's pitch count was already above ninety when Pedroia stepped into the batter's box. With six wins in the bag before the game, one would assume Weaver had decisions as well as pitch count well in hand before suffering his first loss of the season. Actually, his last two starts were complete game victories at Arlington against the Texas Rangers on the 20th of April (119 pitches, 80 strikes, 8 strikeouts, 0 walks), and then at home against the Oakland Athletics on the 25th (114/78/10/1). All those pitches in the previous two starts added with the Pedroia battle perhaps took their toll. By the way, Jered Weaver pitched over six innings (118/77/6/1).

You can also point the finger at the Angels' offensive production. While their record after this game is 16-13, fans and critics look at players such as newcomer Vernon Wells (BA .172) among others for not producing. He did hit a two-run homerun in the game, but when you know your team has problems when nineteen baserunners are left on base!

If the Angels want to save Jered Weaver for a postseason run, the offense must start swinging the bats and Weaver must start saving some of his pitches.

If the Red Sox keep this going, everyone should do like Niles Crane and wear a baseball cap...! What?

Stats provided by Major League Baseball. For more on this game, click this link here!