Friday, September 19, 2008 – Despite a throwing error by Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning that allowed a baserunner to get to second with no one out, the Red Sox managed to pull off the win tonight, 4-3.
Paul Byrd started for the Red Sox. He had a relatively good outing, although he gave up two runs in the second innng, and another run in the fifth. The Red Sox had scored 3 in the top of the fifth, so that run tied the game, and so when Byrd left the game, he didn’t get the win. That would go to Manny Delcarmen.
For the Blue Jays, A.J. Burnett went 8 strong innings, and only gave up three runs. Reliever Brian Tallet took the loss, when a single, two walks, and a fielders’ choice ground out led to the Sox scoring their 4th run of the game.
Jacoby Ellsbury was 1-5 with a caught stealing (successfully picked off). Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz had 0-fers.
In the ninth inning, Papelbon came in to seal the deal. With a record of 5-4 this season, he has not been “lights out” as he has been in the past, and indeed that bobbled throw to first base was uncharacteristic of him. But he composed himself and got the outs he needed.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on where your sympathies lie) the Tampa Bay Rays beat up on the Minnesota Twins, 11-1, so the Red Sox were unable to gain any ground on the Rays.
