Last night’s Red Sox-Astros game had everything: lead changes, home runs, a raucous Fenway, and to cap it all off, a streaker on the field.
Though NESN didn’t show viewers the brave soul who displayed his bare body for the Fenway Faithful, Jerry Remy provided an apt description that didn’t leave much to the imagination. He called the streaker a “big blob of flesh” who was “running out on the field.”
Before Fenway security could apprehend the offender, Remy already took him down with words. It was a savage roasting.
The Red Sox’s 12-8 win over the Astros was the craziest of the season, producing several highlights and moments of controversy. Fenway exploded when Christian Arroyo smashed a three-run game-tying homer in the bottom of the fifth, which wound up just being an appetizer for the chaos to come. In the following frame, Houston hurler Enoli Paredes hit Christian Vazquez with the bases loaded, giving Boston the lead. Paredes walked in another run after that, with Arroyo heading to first base after working a full count.
Then we got the streaker.
“Welcome to the circus tent,” Remy declared at one point. The bottom of the sixth also included two dropped pop-ups, and a conspicuous infield fly call on Rafael Devers, who struck the baseball into shallow center field.
It’s been about one month since NESN’s broadcast team returned to Fenway, and the difference is obvious. We’ve already been treated to an array of sterling telecasts, from Ellis Burks’ debut series in the booth to Remy’s performance Thursday. Though Remy has worked for NESN since 1988 — experiencing multiple health scares along the way — he reminded viewers he’s still one of the game’s best.
When Remy is locked in, he is both acerbic and endearing. Hours before laying into the streaker, he told a charmingly horrific joke about Houston’s Triple-A affiliate, which is located in Sugarland, Texas. “
“Down in Sugarland, the kids don’t go to sleep until late,” he said. “They eat sugar all night.”
So bad, and yet, so good.
On a more serious note, Remy also commented on Astros pitcher Zack Greinke’s well-known struggles with depression and anxiety, touching on his own battles.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Remy said.
Those are powerful words to hear on a baseball telecast. The Red Sox played their most exciting game of the season Thursday, and the broadcast rose to the occasion.