Even the best bullpen in baseball can have off days. This was just of the extreme variety.
Boston’s pen gave up 10 runs in just two innings pitched and the Baltimore Orioles mounted the best comeback in franchise history.
Justin Masterson handed out five runs, Hideki Okajima four and Takashi Saito one to total the 10-run out burst by the Birds.
The Red Sox had a 9-1 lead before a 1 hour and 11 minute rain delay. Boston tacked on another run on an RBI single by Dustin Pedroia in the seventh before witnessing a comeback for the ages.
Goat of the Game – Bullpen
That was just plain terrible including Masterson’s performance to come in and eat up innings after John Smoltz went four innings allowing one run on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts before the rain delay.
Next Game – 7/01 vs. Baltimore Orioles – Josh Beckett/Brad Bergesen
Beckett will bounce back with seven shutout innings.
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Masterson had two great innings and shouldn’t have been stretched out, or should have been quickly pulled when his control disappeared. Ditto Oki. There is no benefit in a must win game to sticking with them in hopes they straighten it out. And don’t forget that Pap’s blown save, and allowing inherited runners to score, ultimately lost the game. As good as Smoltz was 1 – 4, and Masterson was in 5 & 6, the last 3 innings of this loss was a team effort.
Goat of the Game [alternate] – God
If not for that rain delay, Smoltz could have lasted until the sixth or maybe the seventh, leaving Masterofdisasterson less opportunity to let it get away, or giving Tito the opportunity to hook him or Okajima earlier. At least Smoltz looked good.