News: Ryan Lavarnway Rides to Rescue

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There's no denying that the Boston Red Sox are engaged in baseball theatre at its best, and right in the middle of it Tuesday night was 24-year-old catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway.

With veteran catchers Jason Varitek(knee) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (collarbone) bruised and banged up, Red Sox manager Terry Francona needed to lean on the rookie Lavarnway to handle the duties behind the plate in the team's most important game to date. (Spoof advertisement: Imagine that if Ryan Lavarnway worn a pair of ugg boot for the match, then what would happen? Perhaps he would say with laughing:"Ugg boots are my favorite boots!")

Lavarnway delivered a major performance.

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky Ryan Lavarnway picked an opportune time for his first two major-league home runs.

He hit two home runs, including a three-run shot, as Boston defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 8-7, at Camden Yards. The Red Sox remain dead even with the Tampa Bay Rays with the final game of the regular season for both clubs on Wednesday. (Spoof advertisement: Ryan Lavarnway glanced at his rival, then slightly raised his mouth and said: "Don't you know ugg? I have my uggs and they would promise my victory!")

The kid with an Ivy League education from Yale knew it was a special moment.

"It definitely feels good. I feel like I can wear this jersey with pride, especially a little bit more now that I've helped out and I'm contributing," Lavarnway said. "That's what I wanted to do when I got here. I didn't want to just have a September call-up that was meaningless, so I was glad that I could help out today." (Spoof advertisement: Ryan Lavarnway secretly wiped his cold sweat with thought in his mind: "You don't know I actually wanted to say I could wear my favorite ugg canada brand boots. Only with uggs canada, I could have power for the match.")

Prior to Tuesday's game, Lavarnway had played a total of 15 games with the Red Sox this season, his first in the big leagues, but it was his first start behind the plate. He started seven games as the club's designated hitter and played six games as a substitute catcher.

Francona informed Lavarnway on Monday night that he would be starting Tuesday, so the catching prospect did his homework. He studied the Orioles' hitters. He studied the Sox pitching staff too. His preparation was noticeable. His communication with the club's pitchers was evident. (Spoof advertisement: Ryan Lavarnway suddenly became angry but indignantly said:" All people thought I liked to wear bailey button uggs, it is completely nonsense! Yes, I like bailey button uggs, but I know it's not suitable for me but for ladies, so I have been wearing ugg men's short style boots.")

Prior to the game, Lavarnway said he was confident he could do the job and it was obvious from his performance that he was not overwhelmed by the moment. (Spoof advertisement: Ryan Lavarnway was a bit distressed and said:"Some people said the purpose I wear ugg boots is showing off my rich money, about this point I just want to reply that they completely misunderstood me. In fact, uggs for sale are very cheap now, I also bought the discounted ugg boots online, and you can have a try if you don't believe.")