Thanks to Jonathan Papelbon blowing the save for the second straight night, the Laser Show was needed again because without him, the Boston Red Sox might not have beaten the Colorado Rockies last night.
Daisuke Matusuzaka wasn’t spectacular on the mound but did leave the game with a 6-2 lead. Unfortunately for Terry Francona, the bullpen was full of suck for the most part as they combined to give up nine runs.
Manny Delcarmen allowed three runs without retiring a batter while Hideki Okajima got two outs but gave up three runs. Scott Atchison allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings while Ramon Ramirez and Daniel Bard both didn’t allow a run in a 1/3 of an inning. And finally, Papelbon gave up two runs in two innings.
But it was Dustin Pedroia aka the Laser Show who stole the show at Coors Field on Thursday night with his three home run night.
Pedroia’s first home run in the 4th inning got the Red Sox going as it cut the Rockies lead to 2-1. His second home run of the night was a 2-run homer and it gave the Red Sox an 11-8 lead in the 8th inning. And his final homer, another 2-run shot, came in the 10th inning to put the Red Sox out front 13-11. And oh by the way, he was a triple short of the cycle as he also had a single and a double to go with the three homers and knocked in five runs.
Adrian Beltre had a nice night at the plate as well with three hits and three RBIs. Even Dice-K got in on the action with a hit and an RBI.
The concerning part of last night’s game though was the implosion of the bullpen. Yes we know it’s going to happen from time to time especially given they had been great as of late. But it’s not like it was limited to the one person. It was just about everyone.
We should also be concerned with Papelbon’s latest struggles but it’s not time to for us to cry for Bard to be the closer just yet. What I feel the Red Sox need is to acquire another bullpen arm like they did last year in Billy Wagner. I really think that would go a long way to helping the Red Sox return to the playoffs.
The Yankees were off yesterday so the Red Sox and the Rays, who also won, both picked up a ½ game and are now in a virtual tie for second, two games behind the Yanks.
And I’d have to think we’ve probably seen the last of Mike Lowell in a Red Sox uniform. He was placed on the disabled list yesterday with soreness in his surgically repaired hip. Or as I like to say, the ol’ phantom DL move. Lowell’s had a good run with the Red Sox but it’s definitely time for the two to part ways.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups in San Francisco, batter/pitcher matchups, news and any links.
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the Denver Post and Colorado Springs News Gazette websites.
Photo credit: AP Photos
