Red Sox Searching For Relief On Rocky Road Trip
In the hearts of the fans and especially the minds of the television network executives the Boston Red Sox’ most important regular-season games will always be those played against the New York Yankees.
That notion may change come September, the next time the Tampa Bay Rays visit Fenway Park for what’s shaping up to be a crucial series of meetings.
In Boston’s biggest series of the season thus far and arguably the most important one in the history of the Tampa Bay franchise the battle-tested Red Sox were the team that wilted under the spotlight instead of the neophyte Rays. In the first two games, Boston’s heavy-hitting offense was held squarely in check by Tampa hurlers James Shields and Matt Garza. In the finale, the Red Sox squandered a late three-run lead in a painful 7-6 defeat that exposed the club’s primary weakness a lack of quality relievers to set the stage for standout closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Papelbon didn’t throw a single pitch in the series, but he appeared to be in line for a save opportunity when Boston took a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning of Wednesday’s contest. But young relievers Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen both failed to record a single out during a six-run eruption that sent the Rays back in front.
Save for Papelbon, who’s likely on his way to a third straight All-Star appearance, the Boston bullpen has been a model of inconsistency and a constant source of frustration for manager Terry Francona throughout this season, and particularly on the team’s current road trip. Delcarmen surrendered three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning that led to a 11-10 loss at Houston on Saturday. Hideki Okajima, one of the key components in the Red Sox’ march to last year’s World Series title, has allowed 12-of-15 inherited runners to score this year, the highest rate among relievers in the AL.
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Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 5:28 pm under