New guy struck a blow for Everyman

During the course of 162 games, it can also be someone named Van Every. And last night it was.

Baseball is built for that. Built for the Nick Greens and Jeff Baileys, and Jonathan Van Everys to capture a moment in the sun every now and then. Built so guys like this can do something to remember the rest of their lives.

Van Every has toiled in the minors since 2001. Seven of those eight seasons were with the Indians organization, which makes the story so much sweeter. His major league career consisted of 11 at-bats, all of them last season with the Red Sox. He had no homers until last night, when he hit the game-winner in the 10th inning against the team that drafted him in 2000 out of Itawamba Junior College in Fulton, Miss., where he was a pitcher.

He took hot, sweaty bus rides through Columbus, Lake County, Kinston, Akron, Buffalo. His first major league homer came on a 1-1 changeup from righthander Jensen Lewis, with whom he had roomed at least twice in the Indians organization. It landed 420 feet away in center field.

Van Every has always been an enigma to baseball people because, in the words of Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer, "he has tremendous power." That was evident last season in Pawtucket, where he hit 26 homers and knocked in 70 runs in 380 at-bats. He'd also hit 27 homers at Akron and 21 at Kinston.

All of it seemed to come full circle as his teammates smacked him on the head after last night's blast, which saved the game, saved the bullpen, and sent the Sox to Tampa Bay with a collective smile.

"Van Every, come talk to the press," Julio Lugo shouted to the 29-year-old outfielder. When Van Every emerged with a plate of food, Lugo started applauding. He chided, "Put your food down and talk to the press." And Van Every did just that.

"He must have felt great," said Hoyer. "To hit a home run against the organization that signed him. He has to feel great about that. We all feel so good for him."

What relegates a guy like this to taking bus rides for the last eight years rather than custom charter flights with the major leaguers?

"Nothing," said Hoyer. "He came to us because Mike Hazen, our farm director, had been with the Indians when Jonathan was there and he was a big advocate for him when we had a chance to bring him over here. He's really done a nice job for us."

When Rocco Baldelli went down, the Red Sox had to make sure they had a good defensive outfielder as a backup. Veterans such as Jim Edmonds, Luis Gonzalez, Jacques Jones, Kenny Lofton, etc., were looking for work, but Sox management decided Van Every was the easiest and best fit. While the Sox preferred a righthanded-hitting outfielder to replace Baldelli, they decided Van Every's power bat, good defense, ability to play center field, and track record as someone who will crash through a wall if he had to fit the bill just fine.

You could see the reckless abandon with which he played when he extended his body, knowing it wouldn't feel good to make a diving catch of a foul fly to right field on the rubber track. Van Every got the start in right in place of J.D. Drew, whose left quadriceps was acting up. In addition to the homer, Van Every stroked a single through the right side of the infield with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, scoring the first of three runs that tied the game, 5-5.

That one was big. The home run was bigger.

"It was a huge hit by him," said Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "The bullpen wasn't in the best position to throw any more innings, so he really saved us. It was nice to see. I think we all get excited when we see something like that. He deserves something like that to happen for him."

"It feels good," Van Every said. "It would be hard to script it any better. It couldn't have come at a better time. I played with [Lewis] for two years coming up through the system and we actually roomed together here and there. I faced him last year also and have an idea of how they're trying to attack me. I just ran into one. I hit it good - whether it went out or not, that's all I got. All I could do is put a good swing on it and let the ball go."

Then came his proudest moment - rounding the bases and getting ready for the accolades of his teammates. He'd experienced such celebrations many times in the minors but never in the bigs.

"I don't remember hearing much," said Van Every. "They just beat me on the head. I kept my helmet on, thank goodness."

He'd enjoyed big moments during his career. With Pawtucket last season, he hit three homers June 29 at Rochester. He hit three 10th-inning homers with Pawtucket, 10 homers in Pawtucket's final at-bat. He homered in consecutive games five times. He led the International League with no errors in 306 chances.

Seven years and he watched so many guys pass him by in the Indians organization. So many of them were playing across the diamond last night. Why did he never get the chance?

"You're asking the wrong guy," Van Every said. "You'll have to ask those guys over there. Like I said, I couldn't have scripted it any better."

Where does it rank?

He hesitated a moment and said, "This is one of the top . . . the top so far. It's definitely a special day. I spent seven years of my career trying to figure out how to get to this point. Luckily, I'm here and it couldn't have happened at a better time."

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.