SWEPT AWAY BY A "RALLY MONKEY" ...
Van Every's home run is the game winner

April 29, 2009 ... During the course of 162 games, it can also be someone named Van Every. And tonight it was. Baseball is built for that, built for the Nick Greens and Jeff Baileys, and Jonathan Van Everys to capture a moment in the sun every now and then. It is built so guys like this can do something to remember the rest of their lives.

Van Every blasted a changeup from Jensen Lewis 420 feet over the wall in center field in the tenth inning. It proved to be the game winner. For a player whose bio lists seven minor league clubs in multiple organizations in an eight-year career, and who was a substitute for the player the Sox wanted to have in right field tonight, J.D. Drew, his first home run in the majors was nothing short of perfect, especially in its timing, after powering the Sox to a 6-5 win.

Van Every had singled in the first run of the eighth, touching off the rally that brought the teams to extra innings. He also had broken up a double play and made a diving catch in foul territory in the bottom of the eighth. It seemed more than enough for a day of work.

Before a crowd of just 19,137, the Sox had trailed, 5-0, entering the sixth and outscored the Indians, 6-0, the rest of the way. Even get to that point took some work done by the bottom of the order. There were two strikes on Jacoby Ellsbury as he stood at the plate in the eighth inning. Jeff Bailey was at third, pinch runner Julio Lugo at first, and the Sox were down, 5-4. Ellsbury hit the next pitch past second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. Bailey crossed the plate, the score unexpectedly tied after the Sox had been stymied by Fausto Carmona.

The Sox scored three times in the eighth. Despite a weakened bottom of the order with the absences of Drew and Kevin Youkilis, the Sox staged a rally. Mike Lowell singled, followed by another single by Jason Varitek, and an error by Indians third baseman Mark DeRosa on a grounder by Bailey. The bases were loaded for the lefthanded-hitting Van Every.

And Van Every came through, singling to right field to drive in a run. The next came home on a fielder's choice by pinch hitter Drew as Van Every slid into shortstop Jhonny Peralta to break up the double play. Varitek scored, and it was 5-4.

Though the Indians loaded the bases in the eighth against Manny Delcarmen on two walks and a hit batsman with two outs, they failed to score. That brought the teams to the ninth. It took some work by Hideki Okajima to get them to the 10th. The lefthander walked two batters in the ninth, but struck out the struggling Peralta looking to end the threat.

Before the eighth, the Sox hadn't had many chances, though a notable one came when David Ortiz struck out swinging against Rafael Perez to end the seventh with two men on. Carmona, who entered the game with an 8.10 lifetime ERA against the Sox, had struck out Ellsbury to get out of the second after loading the bases, and then proceeded to retire 12 straight batters.

That streak ended when Jason Bay, batting No. 4 in place of Youkilis, walked. It was the 23d walk of the season for Bay, who entered the night leading the majors in bases on balls. He came home when Lowell extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double to left for the Sox' first run. Varitek brought home Lowell with a double, though Bailey ended the inning with a ground out.

After Jon Lester started the game the same way Tuesday night's had ended, with an error by the pitcher, he allowed five runs over three-plus innings before settling down and retiring nine straight.

Van Every played right field for Drew, while Jeff Bailey was at first base. On a play in right Tuesday, Drew felt discomfort in his left quadriceps, which had cut short his day Sunday and forced him out Monday.