September 10, 2008, Tuesday – The Boston Red Sox met the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday night for the second in their three game series. The Red Sox won last night, 3-0. Tonight, although they had the lead going in to the top of the ninth inning – thanks to late inning heroics by Jason Bay – Papelbon allowed two runs to score, and the Rays ended up winning the game 5-4.
Troy Percival, closer for the Rays, gave up a walk to Mark Kotsay. Jason Varitek then not only failed to bunt him over to second, but was called out on strikes instead. David Ortiz then came up to the plate, and ended up flying out.
It then came down to Coco Crisp. Crisp didn’t have good numbers against Percival to being with, being 0-5 in his career, and this at-bat was no different.
Jacoby Ellsbury, put in to pinch run for Mark Kotsay, added a little drama by stealing second (his 45th steal of the sesaon) and then going to third as the ball got away from the second baseman, but then Crisp popped up for the final game of the out.
Jonathan Papelbon had been stellar as the Red Sox closer last season. This season, he has given away quite a few games in the final inning - 4 to be exact. This is worrisome for the Red Sox, however they get into the playoffs.
Daisuke Matsusaka pitched out of trouble the entire night, and left the game down 2-3. Then Jason Bay came up in the 8th inning and hit a home run, plating Kevin Youkilis as well, to give the Red Sox their first lead of the game… which unfortunately didn’t last past the top of the ninth.
