Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon took full blame for Tuesday night’s 7-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Josh Reddick felt really bad about misplaying the fly ball in the 3rd inning that would eventually force starter Erik Bedard from the game. It also turns out that Bedard may have a little something else on his mind before the game.
According to the NY Post, Bedard was served with child support papers before the game by an ex-girlfriend who is the mother of his daughter. And before you jump to conclusions without reading the WHOLE article, Bedard is not a “deadbeat dad”. In fact, according to the same article, Bedard has been paying his child support all along.
Essentially the baby’s mother wants more money since at one point since their original agreement, Bedard has made a little more money in contracts.
So now besides battling injuries to their pitching staff and key players, the Red Sox are also dealing with baby mama drama. I don’t even dare think what’s next.
The one positive about the loss last night for the Red Sox is the fact that the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays. Sure it doesn’t help the Red Sox as far as winning the division goes but do we even care about that anymore as they are six games out with eight to go.
With the team going 5-15 this month, we just want them in the playoffs. Right now the lead over the Rays is still two games in the AL Wild Card and 3.5 over the Los Angeles Angels.
With the Red Sox holding a 1-0 lead, the O’s tied it up in the second when Nick Markakis brought in Robert Andino with a double. Vladimir Guerrero then hit a fly ball to right that Reddick misjudged and ended up going off the webbing of his glove for an error and another O’s run.
This seem to unnerve Bedard as he walked the next two guys to load up the bases. Rather than take Bedard out with Scott Atchison ready to come in, Red Sox skipper Terry Francona took his chances with Bedard but it didn’t work out as Mark Reynolds singled to bring in two more runs that gave the Birds a 4-1 lead.
The Red Sox did battle back in the bottom half of the inning as Adrian Gonzalez hit a two run homer to cut the lead to one. They got two more in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead and let their bullpen keep them in the game until the 8th inning.
After working a 1-2-3 7th inning, Daniel Bard allowed two singles around an Adam Jones strikeout and gave to Paps who was called upon for a five outing save. He struck out Chris Davis for the second out of the inning before Nolan Reimold singled to left to load the bases.
The next batter he faced was Andino and worked the count full before Andino went the other way and cleared the bases with a double to put the O’s out front for good.
I can’t say enough about the job Atchison has done over the past few games as he kept the local nine in the game by allowing three hits with two strikeouts in 2.1 scoreless innings. Even Matt Albers has a solid outing by striking out two in an inning of work.
But given how much the bullpen has been used the past three games, Josh Beckett is probably going to need to go all nine innings tonight. If there’s a pitcher on this staff, he can do it. Making just his second start after the ankle injury could present problems for that but what else can the Red Sox do at this point.
They just need to win games and not worry about whatever anyone else around them in the standings is doing. That and only that, will help them achieve their postseason goal.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, news and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links by click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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For starters, Red Sox rotation at heart of swoon [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Long third inning does in Bedard [Boston Globe]
In this corner . . . it’s Ric Flair [Boston Globe]
Buchholz takes the next step [Boston Globe]
Holding pattern [Boston Globe]
Asking Sox fans the unthinkable: Root for Yankees? [Boston Globe]
No relief in sight [Boston Herald]
Pedroia, Sox get pumped with Flair for dramatics [Boston Herald]
A money player [Boston Herald]
Tito may Yank Bedard [Boston Herald]
April rain brings pain [Boston Herald]
Papelbon takes the hit [Boston Herald]
Bullpen blows it, Sox lose to O’s, 7-5 [CSN New England]
Ric Flair’s Fenway visit thrills Pedroia, Reddick [CSN New England]
Pitching fails Sox from start to finish [CSN New England]
Francona takes high road on Schilling comments [CSN New England]
Notes: Buchholz throws a simulated inning Tuesday [CSN New England]
Papelbon takes ‘full responsibility’ for loss [ESPN Boston]
Schilling: ‘Don’t know that it’s there’ [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: After Bedard’s poor start, Sox bullpen blows it at the end [Full Count]
No one feels worse about Tuesday than Josh Reddick [Full Count]
Video: Ric Flair, Dustin Pedroia Exchange ‘Woos’ in Red Sox Clubhouse Upon Meeting [NESN.com]
Jonathan Papelbon Steps Up, Takes Blame for Latest Red Sox Loss [NESN.com]
Terry Francona Loses Gamble After Going for Early Knockout Blow With Back End of Bullpen [NESN.com]
Bard, Papelbon combine to blow one-run lead [Providence Journal]
Buchholz takes another step on the road back [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Wrestler’s visit may add some flair to playoff push [Providence Journal]
Francona body slams talk-show fodder [RedSox.com]
Lackey or Bedard to face Yankees in finale [RedSox.com]
The last Red Sox standing finally fell [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Baltimore Sun website. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, the Oriole Post.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
Photo credit: AP Photo
