fenway flop

Boston took a lead into the eighth inning of a must-win game and sent two of the best closers of this generation out to preserve it on Sunday at Fenway Park. They couldn’t do it. Former Jackson General Billy Wagner and ex-Mississippi State star Jonathan Papelbon got knocked around by the Los Angeles Angels for five runs in a combined 1 2/3 innings and the Red Sox’s postseason came to a stunning and abrupt end. Whoulda thought it? Papelbon’s meltdown was particularly hard to figure. He had never allowed a run in the postseason. But on Sunday, he couldn’t drop the hammer. He relieved Wagner in the eighth and gave up a two-run hit. Still, Boston took a 6-4 lead to the ninth. Papelbon got two outs and then it all fell apart. Former Generals star Bobby Abreu (3-for-5 on the day) had a big two-out, two-strike double that drove in the first run of the ninth, and he later scored what proved to be the game-winner. Papelbon had to be pulled. In an inning of work, he was charged with 4 hits, 2 walks and 3 runs. He didn’t strike out a batter. He’s an intense kind of guy. Wonder how long he’ll stew over that final inning of 2009?