Tonight’s game was looking like it would be one of the best of the season for the Red Sox after the heroic go-ahead 2 run homer by Jason Bay in the eighth. That is, until Papelbon took the mound in the top of the 9th. Paps threw three straight balls to start the inning before getting Dan Johnson to a full count. The Fenway crowd rose to cheer on what they thought would be strike three only to watch the pitch fly over the bullpen wall to tie the game. Another near homer off of the monster and a base hit brought in the go ahead run for the Rays. In the bottom of the 9th Kotsay walked and Tek failed to bunt him over before popping up. Big Papi came up and got under a ball flying out to right. Ellsbury was called on to pinch run and stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw. Coco Crisp came to the plate with a chance to drive in the tying run but popped up to end the game. The Sox should be in first place celebrating, the stories in tomorrow’s papers should have be about Jason Bay’s impact on the team but a bad inning by Papelbon changed the outcome. The loss hurts a little because it could have been such a memorable game but with Beckett going tomorrow Boston should be able to win the series and keep the pressure on the Rays.
Red Sox Lose 5-4 BOX SCORE
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
