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Clubhouse reaction after today's loss in Tampa

Red Sox manager Terry Francona on Manny Delcarmen's struggles:

“That’s why we went to Manny, so it wouldn’t [get out of control]. He threw two fastballs right in the middle of the plate. Daisuke was so good. It didn’t work out very well.”

Delcarmen on his sub-par outing and allowing back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning:

“If I could take them back I would. It just shows that when you make a mistake they are going to hit it up here. I got frustrated because we scored two the next inning, and if you take away (my) runs then we’re up by one. I wanted to go back out there.”

Dice-K on his performance and the home run he allowed in the seventh inning:

“With both teams at zero runs at that point, that was a situation I wanted to avoid and I’m disappointed."

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 7:09 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Clubhouse Confidential

*The Red Sox complete their seven-game road trip today and they're hoping to return to Boston with a 6-1 mark.

*Because of Saturday's 4:38 marathon where the Sox won in 12 innings, catcher Jason Varitek has been given today off. It's the first time this season Doug Mirabelli will catch Dice-K. Manager Terry Francona said Mirabelli, who usually just catches Tim Wakefield, worked a little bit with Matsuzaka during spring training.

“Not much,” said Francona. “During spring training we have everybody rotate with everybody, but Tek caught the majority of Dice-K because we’re trying to get them familiar [with each other]. But it’s not surprising that this happens once or twice a year. Actually, in the long run, it’s probably good. Jason and I talked about it after (Saturday’s) game, it forces you to do something that ends up being good.”

*Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin has not pitched since last Monday in Cleveland. The veteran right-hander said his shoulder is a little sore, but he's expected to throw again on Tuesday. Francona was asked if there was thought of placing Timlin on the DL, but the manager doesn't think that will be the case.

“We try to do the right thing,” said Francona. “If you get to a point where the right thing looks like it’s longer, then I know we maybe have to look at different things, but I don’t think that’s where we’re at now. We’re hopeful he’ll be able to pitch on Tuesday.”

Timlin, who has worked 16 scoreless innings in his last 11 outings, spent the early part of the season on the DL and also made a rehab appearance in Pawtucket.

"It was a little bit achy, so we decided to lay off," said Timlin this morning. "Give it some time off so it doesn't flare up. It's getting better. Rest isn't always fun, but rest is good. . . as much as no one likes to admit it, especially me, I'm getting older. I don't rebound as fast as I would like to. . . . this is a team concept, it's not a sprint. If I'm able to take some rest in the middle of the race so I can finish, then we'll do that."

Timlin said a trip to the disabled list the furthest thing from his mind.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Today's lineups from Tampa

BOSTON
Julio Lugo, 6
Dustin Pedroia, 4
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, 7
Kevin Youkilis, 3
Mike Lowell, 5
Coco Crisp, 8
Wily Mo Pena, 9
Doug Mirabelli, 2
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP

TAMPA BAY
Akinori Iwamura, 5
Brendan Harris, 6
B.J. Upton, 8
Carlos Pena, 3
Delmon Young, 9
Jonny Gomes, 7
Greg Norton, DH
Dioner Navarro, 2
Josh Wilson, 4
Scott Kazmir, SP

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 12:35 PM | Permalink

Clubhouse reaction after marathon game

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ Jonathan Papelbon is in the baseball business to save the Boston Red Sox.

Last night the Boston Red Sox saved Jonathan Papelbon.

After suffering only his second blown save of the season, Papelbon had to wait until the 12th inning to see if his mates could bail in out, which they did in a dramatic and entertaining 12-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

“There’s no sting,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “We set out to win and we did. It wasn’t easy. The final score won’t indicate the struggles, but that a good win.”

The Devil Rays’ Jonny Gomes smacked a pair of home runs last night, including a two-run shot off Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the second game of this three-game set at 6-6 to force extra innings.

The blown save for Papelbon, only his second of the season, squashed any chance of teammate, friend and starter Jon Lester to earn his second consecutive victory since returning to the majors last Monday in Cleveland after successfully battling cancer in the offseason.

“The main thing is we won,” said Lester. “You have those outings some times and we know Pappy will bounce right back. He’s going to get them either tomorrow or the next day. He’ll be right back to where he needs to be and get that next save. I’m not worried about him and it was a good victory for the team.”

Papelbon suffered his first blown save of the season on May 1 against Oakland, and until last night the hard-throwing right-hander converted 15 straight save opportunities. Entering last night’s game Boston was 60-1 when leading after the eighth inning this season.

Despite Papelbon’s miscue, Francona thought his closer was solid.
“Actually, he was great,” said the manager. “He just threw one pitch, a split that didn’t split. He made one bad pitch and sometimes when you’re in that role that happens. He was real good.”

Fortunately for the Red Sox, Julio Lugo has a keen eye at the plate.

He walked twice with the bases loaded, including his seventh at-bat of the game to push across the eventual game-winning run with two outs in the top of the 12th. The Sox’ Kevin Youkilis provided some much-needed insurance with a three-run double in the third extra frame of the night before Manny Ramirez added a two-run double en route to the victory.

“Our main focus in the bullpen, obviously, is to pick everyone up,” said Red Sox reliever Kyle Snyder, who earned the win. “We’ve got the best closer in baseball right now in my opinion and everyone’s opinion on this team. Baseball is a funny game. [A save] is not necessarily a sure thing, so you always have to keep it turned on down there [in the bullpen] no matter what happens. There are a lot of emotional swings down there for guys like myself throughout the course of the game. As soon as [blown save] happened, I thought there was a good chance I would get the ball in the 10th and I managed to put up two zeros. Obviously our offensive exploded and we came back and got the win.”

The reason Snyder worked last night was because Mike Timlin’s shoulder was a little sore, according to Francona. It’s nothing serious, and the team knew before the game the veteran reliever would not be available.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 12:36 AM | Permalink