Red Sox Nation Offers a Classy Salute to Mike Lowell

Yet, through all the recent developments, both Lowell and Varitek have demonstrated their class and professionalism by accepting their reduced roles without public commentary or complaint. Both men have kept their nose to the grindstone and prepared for every game as if they were in the starting lineup, whether or not they were starting.

In the wake of Kevin Youkilis’ ejection from tonight’s game, Lowell—who did not start—was inserted into the game in Youk’s place. The third baseman came to the plate in the third inning and launched a home run over the Green Monster seats to give the Red Sox the lead. Two innings later, he came to the plate and lined a second home run into the same seats to provide two insurance runs.

He hadn’t even started the game, but he had quickly driven in half the team’s runs and provided the margin of victory.

When he came to the plate in the seventh inning, after a rain delay, Red Sox Nation (or what was left of it at the wet ballpark) stood and gave him a standing ovation. It was the fans’ way of embracing their third baseman…to thank him for the classy way he handled the introduction of Victor Martinez into the lineup and the professionalism he demonstrated in being prepared to perform when he was needed.

Lowell took off his batting helmet and quickly tipped it to the crowd before getting down to business (he popped out).

[NOTE: With his two home runs off the bench, Lowell became the first Red Sox non-starter to hit two or more home runs in a game since Sox 3B Joe Foy did it back in 1967]

The standing ovation was a classy gesture by Red Sox Nation…it helps to underscore why Lowell was willing to take less money to stay in Boston.

The tip of the cap was a classy gesture by Lowell…it is illustrative of the reasons "The Nation" has a great affection for its third baseman.