Affectionately nicknamed "El Guapo" by Fenway fans, the hefty righty signed with the Boston Red Sox in April 1996 after bouncing around several organizations. He shuttled between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket for a few years before landing a permanent middle relief job in Beantown in 1999. While posting a 1.55 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 40 innings that year, Garces mysteriously established something of a cult following in the city, and heard his name exuberantly cheered whenever he trudged out to the mound. (GL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 20, 1997:
In a 10–1 win over Boston, Chicago's Frank Thomas reaches base his first three times up before flying out against Rich Garces. Thomas reached base 15 straight times, one short of ML record, (Hr, three 2B, six 1B, five BB). Jaime Navarro (4-2) is the victor, winning his 10th straight game against the Red Sox going back to September 28, 1991. He'll lose his next decision to the Bosox.
»May 20, 2002: Behind a combined 2-hitter by Derek Lowe (7–1) and Rich Garces, the Red Sox defeat the visiting White Sox, 9–0. Shea Hillenbrand pokes a 3-run homer, a 303 ft. drive around the Pesky pole, one of the shortest homers in decades. It lands in the front-row lap of a youngster.
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