“It doesn’t get any easier,’’ Dustin Pedroia said. “Everyone thought Baltimore was three easy wins, and we got our [behinds] kicked three times.’’
There was the feeling they could have won all three games (going to extra innings in two and carrying a three-run lead in the other). They didn’t, with the sweep culminating yesterday with a 3-2 loss on Ty Wigginton’s double.
“We’re making it pretty tough on ourselves,’’ Pedroia said. “Tight games and we’re not finding a way to win them. It’s tougher now. We’re fighting. We’re just not wining games. It’s tough. It’s frustrating. I think everyone’s frustrated. There’s a lot of guys that have been here [and] we’re not used to this. We’ll grind it out, but we’ve got to find a way to start winning some games.’’
It was the hanging slider that did it yesterday, with Wigginton lashing it beyond the grasp of Darnell McDonald in center field, making the Sox 1-5 in their six extra-inning games. That delivered Nick Markakis from second, though the reason they lost was how Markakis reached. With Jonathan Papelbon on for his second inning of work — manager Terry Francona make the rare decision to pitch his closer in a tied game on the road — Markakis drew a leadoff walk, a cardinal sin.
To keep Markakis close, Papelbon tossed over a pickoff attempt, a dangerous prospect already with Mike Lowell making his major league debut at first base. Ultimately that didn’t matter. Lowell came nowhere close to making the grab, as the ball flew past him and into the stands. Markakis moved up.
“I just didn’t get my hips around,’’ Papelbon said. “I just rushed it a little bit.’’
Wigginton then crushed that slider, bringing the Sox to 11-14 on the season. It also marked a troubling trend regarding Papelbon. Having given up two doubles and a walk yesterday, the closer’s WHIP now stands at 1.38, far higher than his career worst as a reliever, last season’s 1.15. He has allowed nine hits, nine walks, and recorded nine strikeouts in 13 innings.
