The Red Sox knew the Texas Rangers had won earlier in the day, and for two reasons last night they could assume their lead in the wild-card race would slip to 1 1/2 games well before their 9-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox had concluded.
Reason No. 1: The Red Sox trailed by eight runs before the end of the third inning.
Reason No. 2: Nick Green - who spent the majority of this season as the Red Sox’ starting shortstop - came on to pitch in the eighth inning.
The Red Sox did not wait around and let their four-game winning streak slip away last night. Junichi Tazawa, with a sudden succession of pitches that did little to confuse or discomfort the White Sox, stood on the pitching rubber and crushed it - and any drama - into a fine powder. Tazawa lasted only four innings, the ugliest start of his new career.
“Overall,’’ Tazawa said, “it wasn’t a good outing.’’
The rest of the night provided only a scare - Jacoby Ellsbury left with a mild left high ankle sprain after sliding into catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s shin guards to end the fifth - and a spectacle.
In the middle of a playoff race, the Red Sox surely did not envision a position player occupying the mound in what normally would be critical innings. But their bullpen was composed in a unique way. Over the weekend, the Sox had reserved Brad Penny for use in this scenario - he would replace Tazawa in case of trouble.
In the days in between, the Sox granted Penny his release so they could acquire Billy Wagner from the Mets in a waiver deal. Wagner was unavailable last night because he threw a bullpen session in the late afternoon. Besides, the Sox did not add a 38-year-old pitcher 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery so he could mop up, anyway.
A confluence of other relievers’ unavailability made Green the choice. In the third inning, as the White Sox battered Tazawa, manager Terry Francona found Green in the dugout and told him he may have to pitch.
Green and Rocco Baldelli escaped to the batting cage in the tunnel between the dugout and clubhouse. Green threw him three different fastballs, but Baldelli forbade curveballs. “I didn’t have a cup on,’’ Baldelli said.
Green tried a cutter in the impromptu warm-up.
“It didn’t cut,’’ Baldelli said. “I said, ‘Don’t do that.’ ’’
In his career, Green had played every infield and outfield spot. After this season, he wants to pursue catching in an effort to extend his career - what team couldn’t use a fielder who could also serve as an emergency catcher?
READER COMMENTS »
View reader comments » Comment on this story »