Boston's version of Jeffrey Maier (Markakis goes deep)

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

July 02, 2010, 3:44pm

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I hate to even invoke that name in any discussion, ever. But what happened in Boston in the bottom of the second tonight did remind one of that kid who played almost as big a role as Derek Jeter or any Yankee in helping New York beat the O's in the ALCS in 1996. When J.D. Drew homered to left center in the second, a fan seemed to reach over the top of the Green Monster and deflect the ball off the very top of the wall. The umpires ruled home run and Boston leads the game 1-0. Unlike Maier, who reached out and pulled the ball into the stands at Yankee Stadium, this fan did not come up with the ball and no Oriole was camped under the ball ready to catch it like Tony Tarasco. Sorry to bring up the memory, one day, we'll all get over it. Okay, probably not. Doesn't mean quite as much tonight, but the umps may have gotten this one wrong too. Markakis homers: Nick Markakis came up with his fourth homer of the year in the fourth inning when he smashed a knuckleball off Tim Wakefield out at Fenway to tie the game, 1-1. He had gone without a homer over the last 31 games, since hitting one on May 25 vs. Oakland.