Like Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter in his second start, there is little doubt that Masterson, who was filling in for the ailing Daisuke Matsuzaka, will be back, sooner than later. "He did a tremendous job with his composure throwing strikes," general manager Theo Epstein said. "We're proud of him. We couldn't have asked for more from him today."
But once the afternoon shadows deepened, the day took a dive from the divine, the Sox bullpen giving up six runs in the last three innings in a 7-5 loss that rendered David Ortiz's two-run home run in the ninth just a loud but empty shout for 37,848 in Fenway Park.
"I overheard Javier Lopez talking about how Masterson came in out of the blue and threw six great innings," said Manny Delcarmen. "We wanted to finish it off for him, but it didn't happen today."
Lopez, Delcarmen, and ultimately Hideki Okajima combined to give back the 3-1 lead Masterson left with during a seventh inning in which seven straight Angels reached on four singles and three walks, one intentional. Lopez was first and walked Casey Kotchman and gave up a ground-ball single to Maicer Izturis. Delcarmen, pitching for the first time since being dropped by the flu bug that took root in the Sox clubhouse, threw six straight balls, walking Napoli to load the bases, and giving up an infield hit to Erick Aybar that made it 3-2.
Fully healthy, Delcarmen could have been expected to start the seventh. Terry Francona wasn't sure he was up to the task, and events proved his fears were warranted.
"Warming up I was a tad dizzy," Delcarmen said. "I was hoping to get through it."
Okajima, who was pitching for only the second time since April 15 and had given up a home run to Kotchman in Tuesday's 7-6 win, inherited a nigh-impossible situation: a run in, bases loaded, no outs, and the top of the Angels order coming up.
There would be no miraculous escape. Chone Figgins roped a single to right to tie it, and Gary Matthews Jr. skidded a ground ball up the middle that scored two more.
