Denouement

Game 157 at NY Yankees (9/24/11):

Anyone foolish enough to have sat through nine innings of this train wreck deserves hazardous duty pay. Jon Lester started against Freddy Garcia. Lester fell into trouble right away as the Yanks scored six runs in the bottom of the second. They loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. Jesus Montero singled in Cano. Russell Martin then singled in Swisher and Andruw Jones. Jeter followed with a three-run homer. The game was essentially over at that point. The Yanks scored two more in the third when Swisher and Jones singled and both scored on Montero’s double to center, 8-0, Yanks. Montero homered off of Tazawa in the sixth. By the time the seventh rolled around it was mostly a case of the scrubs doing battle. Conor Jackson singled and scored on Crawford’s double to the gap. It was yet another lost afternoon for the Red Sox.

Game 158 at NY Yankees (9/25/11):

On Sunday, the teams played a day/night doubleheader and the Sox lost the day game as Tim Wakefield got hammered early and the team never recovered. In the bottom of the first, Gardner reached on an infield hit, stole second, went to third on Jeter’s single and scored on a passed ball. Jeter moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. Posada hit a two-run homer in the third to make it 4-0. Ellsbury homered to right leading off the fourth. The Yanks made it 5-1 in the fifth when Jeter singled, moved to second on Crawford’s fielding error and scored on A-Rod’s single to right. Ellsbury homered again in the sixth to make it 5-2 but the Yanks came right back in the bottom half as Brandon Laird singled and scored on Jeter’s ground-rule double to right. Burnett struck out the side in the eighth after Scutaro doubled. The losses just keep on mounting…

Game 159 at NY Yankees (9/25/11):

In the nightcap, the Sox posted one of their biggest victories of the year as they won a 14th inning slug fest in dramatic fashion. John Lackey started against the Yanks’ phenom, Ivan Nova. The Yanks went right to work on Lackey in the bottom of the first as Granderson walked and Cano singled. Both scored on Teixeira’s long double to the gap in right center. On the play, Teixeira scored on Varitek’s throwing error. The Sox picked up a run in the fifth when Lowrie tripled to right and scored on JD Drew’s (remember him?) single to right. The Sox made it 3-2 in the sixth Crawford and Pedroia started off with back-to-back singles. With one out, Gonzalez grounded out and Crawford came in the back door. Pedroia was later thrown out at home trying to score on a passed ball. The Sox went ahead in the seventh with two runs as Lowrie doubled to right and was run for by Aviles. Scutaro then doubled in Aviles with the tying run. Varitek (who had earlier been hit on the knee with a pitch) singled in Scutaro. The Yanks later tied the score in the bottom of the seventh when the speedy Gardner singled, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly. As the game dragged on into extra innings, the Sox got great relief work from Papelbon and Morales. Finally, in the top of the 14th, the Sox bats went to work. Darnell McDonald singled and Scutaro walked. With one out, Ellsbury launched a three-run bomb into the Yankees’ bullpen and the Sox went on top 7-4. Felix Doubront entered in the bottom of the 14th and stoned the Yankees cold. If somehow the Sox make the playoffs, the team will remember how important this victory was.

On to Baltimore:

Game 160 at Baltimore (9/26/11):

With a precarious one-game lead in the Wild Card standings, the Sox traveled to Baltimore to close out the regular season. We may look back to Ellsbury’s 14th inning home run as one for the books as it definitely boosted a lot of sagging spirits with the club and its disheartened legion of followers.

In the opener, Josh Beckett (13-6, 2.70) started against Tommy Hunter (4-4, 4.86). Hunter had a good outing against the Sox last Wednesday, pitching into the seventh but getting no decision. It was a warm night in Baltimore (78°) to start the game and there wasn’t much of a crowd at the ballyard. The Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the first as Pedroia walked, Ortiz singled to left and Gonzalez walked but Lowrie flied out to left to kill that threat. Matt Angle singled to right leading off the bottom of the first. Angle then stole second but was caught in a rundown after JJ Hardy hit a grounder back to the box. JD Drew led off the second with a bloop single to short right. With two outs, Ellsbury singled to left. Angle made a bad relay throw and Scutaro raced around from first to score on a close play as Hunter dropped the relay throw to the plate. Ellsbury took second on the play and later stole third. Matt Wieters tied the score with one out in the bottom of the second after he took a fastball over the wall in left. Lowrie led off the fourth with a homer to right to put the Sox back on top. In the bottom of the fifth, Adam Jones singled and Reynolds walked. Davis singled to center and Jones came in with the tying run. After Andino bunted both runners over Angle walked to load the bases. Hardy hit an infield pop to third and that brought Markakis to the plate (who has traditionally feasted on Red Sox pitching—the one guy you’d least want to have hitting in this situation). And Beckett struck him out! Lefthander Troy Patton replaced Hunter to open the sixth. Vladdy Guerrero singled up the middle leading off the sixth. With that hit, Guerrero became the all-time hit leader from the Dominican Republic. Considering all of the great Dominicans who have graced the game of baseball, that’s quite an accomplishment. An almost equally big accomplishment was the dreadfully slow Guerrero stealing second. With two outs, Beckett walked Reynolds. Aceves began warming up in the bullpen as Beckett was over 100 pitches. Davis then doubled to right and Guerrero lumbered in with the go-ahead run. Andino followed with a long fly that Ellsbury chased after. He caught the ball but it popped loose when he crashed into the padded wall. Both runners easily scored and then the speedy Andino raced all around the bases in an inside-the-park three run homer and the O’s went up 6-2. If only Ellsbury hung onto the ball, they’d be replaying it non-stop as a “web gem” for the next two weeks. It took a tremendous effort just to get to the ball. In the top of the eighth, the Sox loaded the bases with one out as Gonzalez singled, Lowrie walked and Drew singled. Saltalamacchia struck out swinging, leaving it up to Scutaro, who grounded out to short. The O’s capitalized on their chances and the Sox didn’t; simple as that. In the bottom of the eighth with Weiland pitching, Saltalamacchia took a foul tip in the chest and went down in a world of pain. He was removed from the game holding his chest and went directly to the clubhouse for repairs. Ryan Lavarnway entered in Salty’s place. Ellsbury was hit by a pitch leading off the ninth and moved to second on a balk. It’s a final from St. Pete: Rays 5, Yankees 2. Pedroia singled to right, driving in Ellsbury and then Ortiz reached on an infield hit to short. Gonzalez then flied out to left and Lowrie struck out to end it. With the loss and the Rays’ win there is now a tie for the Wild Card with two games remaining.

Game 161 at Baltimore (9/27/11):

Once upon a time (September 2nd to be exact), the Sox held a nine-game lead in the Wild Card standings, only to have seen it evaporate after the worst September in team history. On Tuesday night, they sent Erik Bedard to the mound against Zach Britton. Ryan Lavarnway started behind the plate for the injured Saltalamacchia. A light rain was falling at game time and the stands were perhaps 25% full. In the bottom of the first, Markakis walked and came around to score on Vladdy Guerrero’s double to the gap in left center. Adam Jones led off the bottom of the second with a double to the left-center gap. Jones was thrown out trying to steal third. With two outs in the third, Scutaro doubled to left and scored on Ellsbury’s two-run homer to deep right. In the fourth, Ortiz and Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles and everybody came home on Lavarnway’s first major-league homer, as he rocked a high fastball into the stands in left to make it 5-1 Sox. McDonald followed with a pop double to left and moved to third on a wild pitch. Britton then retired the next two batters and McDonald rotted on the vine. The O’s came right back as Guerrero singled and scored on Wieters’ two-run homer. With one out, Reynolds walked and Davis singled to right. The manager wasn’t fooling around with this and came looking for the baseball. The Sox loaded the bases on three walks after two were out but then Markakis made a spectacular diving backhanded grab of Lavarnway’s twisting fly to short right. Markakis just kills the Red Sox. With one out in the sixth, Crawford tripled to the gap in right and scored on Scutaro’s homer to left. Adam Jones homered to center leading off the bottom of the sixth. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Markakis doubled high off the wall in right but Aceves was able to get out of trouble on a grounder to second. Lavarnway led off the top of the eighth with a homer that just squeaked over the wall in left to make it 8-4. Bard entered in the bottom of the eighth and Wieters singled to left leading off. Wieters later scored on Davis’ single up the middle. Reimold then tripled high off the wall, scoring Davis to make it 8-6. Right around the time Reimold was circling the bases, the Rays wrapped up a 5-2 win over the Yanks. With Papelbon pitching in the bottom of the ninth, Hardy led off with a single to left. With one out and Hardy on second, Guerrero singled to left putting runners on the corners. Wieters hit a weak infield grounder and Hardy came in the back door to make it 8-7. After a lengthy at bat, Adam Jones grounded out to third and the Sox somehow found a way not to lose this one. So, it all comes down to one game tomorrow.

Game 162 at Baltimore (9/28/11):

And so it came down to the final game of the season to determine the Sox’ fate. They faced one of four scenarios:

1. Sox win, Rays lose = Trip to ALDS
2. Sox win, Rays win = One game playoff
3. Sox lose, Rays lose = One game playoff
4. Sox lose, Rays win = Sox go home

The Sox sent Jon Lester (15-9, 3.49) on three days’ rest to the mound against Alfredo Simon (4-9, 4.85). In other notes, Clay Buchholz was activated from the DL and may be available to pitch an inning or two but Kevin Youkilis has been shut down for the season with a hip injury and a sports hernia.

From St. Pete: The Yanks took a 1-0 lead in the first as Granderson singled, stole second and scored on when Cano reached on Zobrist’s fielding error. In the bottom of the first with Dellin Betances pitching, Upton and Longoria walked with one out. Betances came back to strike out Joyce and Damon. In the second, the Yanks had runners on the corners after Eduardo Nunez doubled and Brandon Laird singled. Jeter walked to load the bases. With two outs, Teixeira hit a grand slam to left and the Yanks took a 5-0 lead. Swisher doubled to center leading off the third.

From Baltimore: JJ Hardy doubled to right with one out in the bottom of the first. But Lester struck out two batters. Adam Jones reached on an infield hit with one out in the bottom of the second. Reynolds then grounded into a tailor-made 5-4-3 twin killing. Mike Aviles led off the third with a walk and Ellsbury followed with a line drive single to left. Pedroia then singled up the middle and Aviles scored the game’s first run. Ortiz then grounded into an “excuse-me” 5-4-3 double play. After Gonzalez received an intentional walk, Lavarnway struck out swinging. Chris Davis walked leading off the bottom of the third. With two outs, JJ Hardy launched a two-run shot to left to put the Orioles ahead. Lester came back to strike out Markakis. With one out in the fourth, Scutaro ripped a double down the line in left. Scutaro advanced to third on Crawford’s ground out and a balk was called against Simon, bringing in the tying run. Aviles followed with a single to left, but was thrown out trying to steal second.

From St. Pete: Betances was finished after only two innings and was relieved by George Kontos. Desmond Jennings led off with a walk and stole second. With two outs, Aaron Laffey relieved Kontos. Laffey retired Joyce on a pop to short. With one out in the fourth, Teixeira hit a towering solo homer to left to make it 6-0 Yanks. With one out in the fifth, Andruw Jones hit a solo homer and the rout was on. By the bottom of the sixth, the Yanks had already used five pitchers as Joe Girardi began mixing some of the Yankee scrubs into the lineup. Damon walked and Kotchman singled with two outs but Shoppach fouled out to first.

From Baltimore: With one out in the fifth, Pedroia put the Sox ahead with a solo shot to left. Ortiz followed with a single high off the wall in right (missing a homer by about five feet). That was all for Simon as Showalter came out looking for the baseball. Troy Patton relieved Simon and Gonzalez reached on an infield hit. But Patton came back to retire Lavarnway and Drew and the Sox left two runners on base. Reynolds doubled off the wall in right leading off the bottom of the fifth and moved to third on Davis’ ground out. Reimold grounded to short and Reynolds broke for the plate. Scutaro’s throw was on the money and Reynolds was out by two steps. Hardy walked leading off the bottom of the sixth and Markakis followed suit. Guerrero then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, with Scutaro making a nice grab behind the bag and shoveling the ball to Pedroia. Wieters then walked, putting runners on first and third. But Lester came back to strike out Adam Jones. During the top of the seventh, it started to rain in Baltimore and the grounds crew was poised to put the tarp on the field. With one out, Pedroia walked and then Ortiz ripped a base hit to the gap. Pedroia took third but the slow-footed Ortiz was thrown out at second. Gonzalez then received another free pass. At that point, there was a pitching change and Lavarnway grounded out to short. Lester (6IP,4H, 2ER, 4BB, 5K) gave way to Alfredo Aceves to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Lester had a very good outing despite having only three days’ rest. In the bottom of the seventh, the skies opened and the tarp came on the field at 9:35. This was already the 15th rain delay in which the Sox have been involved this year. Fifteen minutes later and it was absolutely raining cats and dogs out there.

From St. Pete: On to the bottom of the eighth, still 7-0 and the Yanks have used eight pitchers so far. Damon singled off of Boone Logan and Zobrist followed with a double. Kotchman was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Luis Ayala relieved Logan and walked Sam Fuld, pushing across the Rays’ first run. Ayala then hit Sean Rodriguez and it was 7-2. Getting a little nervous, are we? Jennings struck out but Upton hit a sacrifice fly to center and Kotchman scored. Longoria then hit a three-run homer and it was 7-6! John Jaso then singled to right and stole second. Damon was then retired on an infield pop but the damage was done. In the bottom of the ninth the Yanks brought out Cory Wade (instead of Rivera) to face Zobrist, who flied out to center. Kotchman then grounded out to third and then Dan Johnson (batting .108) stepped in as a pinch hitter and…homered to right to tie up the ballgame 7-7! Unbelievable, how do the Yanks blow a seven-run lead? Truth is certainly stranger than fiction. Sean Rodriguez then reached on an infield hit, but Jennings grounded out to second and it was on to extra innings at the Trop. The Yanks had a runner on second but Romine struck out. By the bottom of the tenth, the Yanks had used their 11th pitcher and were fielding a lineup of scrubs. Upton walked leading off. Longoria then hit a long drive to deep center that was tracked down. Damon later struck out and it was on to the 11th. The Yanks went down in order in the top of the 11th. Zobrist walked leading off the bottom of the 11th and Brandon Guyer singled up the middle with one out. With two outs, Jennings popped out to second and it was on to the 12th.

From Baltimore: The game resumed at 10:58 and Aceves promptly hit Reynolds with a pitch. With one out, Aceves hit Reimold in the back. Andino struck out swinging. Pedro Strop came on to pitch the eighth. With one out, Scutaro singled. Crawford followed with a double to the gap in left center. Scutaro raced around from first but was thrown out at the plate on a very close play. Bard came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and easily retired the side in order. The O’s brought out their closer, Jim Johnson, to pitch the ninth. Ellsbury appeared to have legged out an infield hit but the first base umpire called him out (a replay indicated that he was safe). The umps talked it over and ruled that the first baseman didn’t have control of the ball when Ellsbury reached the bag. Ellsbury then stole second. Pedroia then singled to right. With one out and runners on the corners, Gonzalez received his third intentional walk. Lavarnway grounded into a double play to end the inning. Papelbon entered in the bottom of the ninth. Adam Jones struck out swinging. Reynolds struck out swinging. Davis then ripped a line drive double to right. Reimold then hit a ground rule double to center and Davis came in with the tying run (and Papelbon had him with two strikes). Andino hit a short pop to left. Crawford dove to get the ball and it popped out of his glove. Reimold raced around from center and scored. Game over. O’s win 4-3. It will take a Rays’ loss for the season to continue. What a heartbreaking, sickening loss this was to swallow.

From St. Pete: Greg Golson singled leading off the 12th. Eric Chavez then singled to right and Golson scooted over to third. Posada grounded into a 5-2 fielder’s choice with Golson out at home. Dickerson then struck out and Gardner grounded out to second. Moments after the Sox were defeated, Longoria homered to left and the Rays won 8-7.

Season’s over.

It will be a long winter for Red Sox fans as they have to accept a cataclysmic collapse. They were nine games ahead in the Wild Card race on September 2nd and it all unraveled like a slow-moving train wreck. This collapse will go down in history like ’49, ’78, ’86 and '03.

There are simply no words for this…