After winning the first two games in Seattle, the Sox had to settle for a split with the Mariners. Yesterday, Daisuke Matsuzaka went six strong innings, giving up just four hits and one run, but he walked five. If not for the walks, the events that unfolded might not have happened.
In the fourth inning, the Sox struck for two runs and held a tenuous 2-1 lead going into the seventh. Daniel Bard threw a shutout inning against the M's, but gave up a hit to lead off the eighth. Hideki Okajima came in and surrendered four straight hits before Kevin Youkilis turned a double play and Ramon Ramirez came in to relieve and get out of it. My question is, why on earth would you pull Bard, one of the Sox's best pitchers, out of the game when he gives up one hit? Why bring in Okajima, when he has been shaky to say the least this year? Some people, including me, wondered why Terry Francona pulled Dice-K after only six innings, but I can answer this question. It is because of his walks. He had 108 pitches after six, so he could not have gone longer.
Trivia
Daniel Bard had his 15 and 2/3 scoreless inning streak snapped yesterday when his runner scored.
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