Patriots’ Dismay
The 38,108 fans at Fenway knew it. People who took the day off to watch the game knew it. Even those who couldn’t get the day off knew it. The only one who didn’t know it was the only one who mattered.
Bobby Valentine kept Daniel Bard on the mound as he walked in what would be the winning run with two down in the seventh.
The frame started out promisingly enough. Jeff Keppinger tapped out to Nick Punto and Jose Molina struck out looking. But then Sean Rodriguez walked on six pitches, the last of which was a pitch in the dirt.
Allowing Bard to face Desmond Jennings was defensible. The emergent outfielder lined a single into center after working the count 2-2. Carlos Pena, he of the 171 strikeouts a season average over the last dozen years, walked on four pitches.
Instead of Valentine emerging from the dugout to pull Bard Bob McClure came out to check in with the newly installed starter. Bard did the same thing to Evan Longoria as he did with Pena, a four-pitch base on balls.
Perhaps Valentine was emotionally and physically not into the game due to the recent controversy between he and Youkilis. If Grady Little accepts his invitation to celebrate Fenway’s 100th anniversary, Valentine should arrange to spend a few minutes with his predecessor and ask Little what Red Sox management does to managers who leave pitchers in too long.
| Game 10: April 16, 2012 | ||
 Tampa Bay Rays5-5 |
1 |
W: James Shields (2-0) S: Fernando Rodney (4) |
| 2B: Desmond Jennings (2) | ||
| Boston Red Sox 4-6 |
0 |
L: Daniel Bard (0-2) |
| No extra base hits | ||
