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September 14, 2007

Red Sox blow five-run lead, fall to Yankees

BOSTON -- Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon have been the kingpins in the bullpen for the Boston Red Sox this season.

Anytime that door swung open in the late innings of a game it was a given the pair of relievers would simply shut the door in any situation.

At a time when the Red Sox needed that trend to continue, Okajima and Papelbon succumbed to New York in one catastrophic inning as the Yankees staged a dramatic comeback en route to an 8-7 victory at Fenway Park.

The game last four hours and 43 minutes.

The Red Sox held a 7-2 lead heading into the top of the eighth inning, but the Yankees scored six runs, including a pair of back-to-back solo home runs by Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano to start the inning off Okajima.

The Japanese left-hander surrendered four runs on three hits in 1/3 of an inning, while Papelbon gave up two runs on three hits in that eighth inning as New York gained an 8-7 advantage.

For Papelbon, he entered the game having retired 18 of the last 19 batters he’s faced in his last six appearances, but New York got to him tonight as it snapped the right-hander's 16 2/3 innings scoreless streak.

-Joe McDonald

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:57 PM | Permalink

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