U2

Game 115 - Red Sox

Orioles 6, Red Sox 5
Record: 69-46

Friday, Bloody Friday for the Sox and Mets. I'll let Whit chronicle his squad's meltdown, but last night was clearly the worst loss of the season for the Sox, just as they appeared to be on their way to one of their best wins.

Erik Bedard dominated the Sox through 7 innings, but Daisuke Matsuzaka nearly matched him, allowing only a single tally over the same span. With 2 outs in the top of the 8th, the impossible happened - Wily Mo Pena capped off a patient at-bat by ripping a 2-strike breaking ball to center to plate 2 runs and give the Sox their first lead. Hits by Papi and Manny stretched the gap to 5-1 with a rested bullpen ready to slam the door.

Except that the door bounced back right in Eric Gagne's face, and by the time he recovered with help from Hideki Okajima, the game was tied at 5. When Coco Crisp's noodle arm couldn't even get the ball back to the infield from medium center in the bottom of the 9th, Brian Roberts scampered home on a sac fly to hand the Sox a painful loss.

I'm just gonna get this one out of my system, instead of belaboring my disgust. Shit happens, I suppose. Today's bounceback contest against the same O's will be a telling affair.