Featured image courtesy of Zimbio.com: (Oct. 22, 2018 – Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America)
Wow. That was painful. The Boston Red Sox had the Cleveland Indians beat not once but twice. Regardless, they took a gut-wrenching, rain-delayed 7-5 lost on Tuesday night. Of course, the onus for this tragedy falls on Ryan Brasier and Marcus Walden.
The eight inning started with optimism. Walden, who has been one of two rock solid relievers for the Red Sox, came onto the mound with a cushioned 3-0 lead. After a two-RBI line-drive double by Francisco Lindor, the lead was threatened. The score read 3-2, as Matt Barnes came to save the day.
Alas, a day for a reliever sometimes amounts to no more than an inning. Barnes escaped the 8th without giving up a run, and Boston tacked on two more in the 9th to make it a more comfortable 5-2 score. A 9th inning had to be pitched, so Ryan Brasier waltzed in. With a FIP close to 5.00 and a microscopic, unsustainable BABIP, the right-hander entered and promptly allowed two homeruns and three runs. The lead was blown while Brasier left without recording a single out.
Travis Lankins, the rookie reliever, came into mend the damage. Sadly, he added more fire to the self-implosion, throwing three times as many balls as strikes and allowing two more runs.
Boston tried to muster a comeback in the bottom 9th. They even had two runners reach base with one out. Brad Hand (Cleveland’s closer), however, shut down the threat. Cleveland won, despite an incredible 6-inning, no run performance from David Price.
This game was wild and stupid. Emphasis on the stupid part. Boston takes on Cleveland at 6:05 p.m. eastern for the series. Ryan Weber will look to lift the team to victory, as he starts for Boston.