Boston Bullpen Flat Out BLOWS IT!

The Boston Red Sox fell to the hapless Baltimore Orioles by a score of 5-4 Friday night. John Lackey started the contest and was just fine. His breaking ball was sharp and his fastballs crisp. He was able to go 7 innings and gave up two earned runs, three in all. But Daniel Bard, who came into the game in the eighth, allowed the tying run to score in the eighth on a mammoth tater and Ramon Ramirez, who pitched a clean 9th, could not finish his second inning of work and gave way to Manny Ramirez, who allowed a walk off up-the-middle single that was just past his outreached glove. Game over. Ramirez has had a dubious start this year and maybe he's turned into a one inning only pitcher. I just don't know. Here's Red Sox skipper Terry Francona on Lackey's night...

“Lackey is out of the stretch 30 seconds into the game, and we’re not giving him much help,’’ manager Terry Francona said. "He’s in line for that win.’’

Yes, he was. Another error by Adrian Beltre, who already has five of 'em this year, leading the league, contributed to that unearned run. After the game, he said this...

“I have been playing horrible. I’m not trying to be bad. I’m not trying to let everybody down. I’m just not playing the way I should be playing."

And it wasn't the sometimes uneven Boston infield turf's fault last night, either. Beltre was also called for interference on the base paths that eventually ended up costing the Sox another run, a run that probably would have won it. But it all comes down to the bullpen, or lack thereof. Bard gives up too many home runs, Ramirez is, well, Ramirez and Delcarmen is all or nothing at all. Okie and Paps are just fine, thank you, but Boston couldn't get to him last night, not in a tie game on the road.

Dasuke Matsuzaka will make his 2010 season debut tonight at Camden Yards. First pitch will be thrown at 7:05pm EDT. A great performance would boost his club immensely. It would boost me, too. Have a great weekend and click on this post's title for more Sox stuff. As always, BE WELL. See you soon.