Awful Awful...What A Waste! KC 12 Boston 9

Boy, oh boy, this one was downright U-G-L-Y. There are no other words that fit. The Boston Red Sox, with a hobbling Tim Wakefield bravely on the mound, blew a four run lead and imploded in the sixth inning, suffering a 12-9 loss. They could have gained a game on the losing Yankess, but noooooo. It was a rainy and wasted evening in Kansas City with maybe the worst pitching performance of the year by the Sox staff.

Timmy ended up gutting out 5 innings and left with a four run lead at 8-4. Boston added one run and Manny Delcarmen took over in the bottom of the sixth. ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. The Royals (the Royals??) plated six runners in the frame. An 11-9 score eventually turned into the final score, which was 12-9. Wakes is clearly hobbled and the incessant rain didn't help one bit. Here he is after the game...

“It’s brutal - gave the game away, bottom line,” said Wakefield. "I had a hard time gripping it and I didn’t have control of it,” said Wakefield. "I made a bad pitch to Jacobs that got them back into the game and then we lost it.”

At least Timmy had the guts to talk to the assembled media. Manny Delcarmen, who lately has been living "up" to his nickname of Little Manny, shunned them. Here's his bullpen teammate...

“He’s (Delcarmen) getting ahead of guys, he’s just having trouble putting them away,” said Bard of his bullpen mate. “He’s making good pitches early, but putting away big league hitters is a tough thing to do. He’s done it in the past and he’s going to find a way to get it done pretty soon, I think.”

In all, it was a night which I hope will quickly be forgotten on our way to October play. If Boston fails to make the postseason, falling short by one game, I certainly will think back to this Monday night in late September, a night in which the hopes of another AL East championship were still possible. Oh, the Yankees lost to the Halos last night. It's turn the page time. Turn the page with Byrd pitching? OY VEI. Don't get me wrong, Paul Byrd is a genuinely nice guy, he really is. Tonight, he'll be pitching against the Royals' best, Greinke. Anyway we look at it, it can't get any worse than it was last night. But we will survive...that I guarantee. After tonight, the BIG FOUR will pitch. That's exactly what they are. Can many (any) other teams say that? My answer is no!

Click on the title for more Sox stuff and as always, BE WELL. Thanks. Safe trip, BFW!