Jay’s Sports Blog™

Thank God yesterday’s Sox game started at 4:40. I say this because the game was just a shade over four hours in length and don’t think anyone (with one exception) would have seen the finish. Similar to this year’s All Star game, this game just didn’t want to end.

Clay Buchholz was given a lead to work with and proceeded to give up a two run home run to erase that lead. But this is one time that the bullpen didn’t let down the team. Justin Masterson was first out of the chute and worked two and two thirds clean baseball. No walks, no hits allowed.

Tito then brought in Okajima for the second day in a row and although he did walk a batter he didn’t give up any hits or runs. Tito then summoned Manny Delcarmen into the game and to be honest with you, I thought that was it. This guy is so hot and cold and with this being a road game I figured the Sox would lose.

Then Manny proceeded to get out of the inning. Holy crap we’re going into extras. Delcarmen pitched the tenth as well working a 1-2-3 inning and striking out the last two batters. Is this the turning of the page for him? Is this what we can expect everytime out? We could only hope so, it would solve so many problems in the pen.

Francona had Papelbon pitch the eleventh. It was a roller coaster ride with Paps giving up two hits, but managed to get out of it with a nice double play. Which brought us to the top of the twelfth.

Following an error by the Seattle center fielder, Willy Bloomquist, the Sox had the bases loaded with just one out. That’s when Mikey Lowell came through big time for the Sox and scored two runs on a single to left. Then Sean Casey scored another run with a single to right.

Now I understand that Papelmania had a rough (not clean) eleventh and worked the previous two nights, but today’s an off day and he only threw 15 pitches. I bring this up because Terry brought in Craig Hansen to pitch the bottom of the twelfth. He gave up two hits and walked a batter setting up what could have been a walk off grand slam for the Mariners. But Jose Vidro grounded out and the Sox won the game.

What really bothered me more than the fact that Hansen was brought in was that Francona had Grandpa Timlin warming up behind him. If you wanted to lose the game, why not just bring in Timlin in the sixth instead of Masterson? I understand that he wants to try and build Timlin’s confidence but how about doing that when the Sox have a nine run lead. Just saying.

So with no Sox game on the docket tonight what am I supposed to do for tomorrow’s column? Um, how about PATRIOT’S FRIDAY! That’s right, the boys of Foxboro are opening camp today and I am psyched!