The Boston Red Sox beat the Cincinnati Reds by a 9-0 score today, Sunday, June 15, 2008.
Red Sox rookie Jacoby Ellsbury got the game started in fine style in the first inning by hitting a single - then stealing second and then third, so that he could trot home on a sacrifice fly.
Those 2 steals gives Ellsbury the Red Sox rookie record at 33. Last night he’d tied the mark set a hundred years ago, when a Red Sox rookie named Amby McConnell stole 31, and today he moved into front place.
The record for a rookie in the American League was set by Kenny Lofton, who stole 66 bases in 1992.
“It’s pretty neat to do something that hasn’t been done in Red Sox history for 100 years,” Ellsbury said. “Still, it’s all about getting momentum in the game. I wouldn’t say it’s deflating to steal second and third then score, but it does establish momentum with Josh Beckett on the mound.”
With so many games left in the season, Ellsbury has a good chance to match or beat Lofton’s record.
A handful of players have stolen over 100 bases in a single season. Rickie Henderson had 130 in 1982.
Ellsbury has the wheels to do it. It all depends on if his bat…or his patience at taking walks…can get him on first to begin with.
