Jonathan Papel-pas-bon
I wanted to press “delete” on the DVR and pretend today’s game didn’t happen. I didn’t want to see the gut-wrenching loss or the the Blue Jays’ throwbacks.
At least newcomer Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a nifty hitting debut. In the middle game of the series he came in as a defensive replacement for Victor Martinez but didn’t bat. The backstop made the day game start, doubling twice in his four at bats. He also threw out Aaron Hill in the second inning on the Toronto second baseman’s steal attempt, perhaps dispelling the lingering doubts about his defensive shortcomings.
My morbid curiosity got the better of me. I needed visual verification that John Lackey could carry a game into the ninth. After Jose Bautista’s gajillionth home run this season was struck I pressed stop. I imagined I was Terry Francona and I called on Daniel Bard, not Jonathan Papelbon, to finish the game. Boston won 5-3.
| Game 116: August 12, 2010 | ||
| Red Sox 66-50 | 5 | BS, L: Jonathan Papelbon (6, 4-5) |
| 2B: Jarrod Saltalamacchia – 2 (2), J.D. Drew (22) 3B: Darnell McDonald (2) HR: Jed Lowrie (1), David Ortiz (25) | ||
 Blue Jays60-54 | 6 | L: Shaun Marcum (10-6) |
| 2B: Yunel Escobar (16), Fred Lewis (29), Adam Lind (19), Vernon Wells (35), Edwin Encarnacion (16) HR: Jose Bautista (36) | ||
