Projo Sox Blog

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Fortunately for Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen, his teammates bailed him out in Game Five of the American League Championship Series Thursday night at Fenway Park.

The hard-throwing right-hander entered the game in the top of the seventh inning with Tampa holding a 5-0 lead. Delcarmen issued back-to-back walks to lead off the inning before he was given the hook in favor of Jonathan Papelbon.

The Sox' closer surrendered a two-run double to the Rays' B.J. Upton as Delcarmen was in the clubhouse kicking himself. In the end, however, it didn't matter because the Red Sox erased a seven-run deficit and eventually won 8-7 on a walkoff in the bottom of the ninth inning.

After the historic victory, Delcarmen was relieved . . . figuratively, as well as literally.

Delcarmen has struggled big time in the postseason, especially in the ALCS. He has a 31.50 ERA in only two innings worked, allowing seven earned runs on three hits with five walks.

After he exited the game, he was in the clubhouse watching the comeback unfold with Game Five starter Daisuke Matsuzaka.

"I was in the clubhouse, kicking myself in the butt," Delcarmen said. "I gave up the two walks and if you take away the two runs, then we're up 7-5. Pap would have shut the door and that's ballgame. It was a big win for us and we'll get another shot at it. I was relieved when I saw us tie it up. It's part of the game and I want another shot at these guys."

In fact, once J.D. Drew hit his two-run homer in the eighth inning, Dice-K told Delcarmen not to move off the couch because they shouldn't jinx anything.

The problem, however, is the broadcast is on a delay. They heard the fans going crazy, so they knew something happened then they saw it on the screen.

"We said 'Oh [crap]' and then ran outside." said Delcarmen.

Prior to Game Six at Tropicana Field on Saturday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke about Delcarmen's postseason struggles.

"It seems like he's just missing and they're laying off," Francona said. "He's running into deep counts, and then he's either made a mistake or walked somebody. It's not like he's throwing the ball poorly, he hasn't hit his spots as much as he needs too."

Francona said he and pitching coach John Farrell spoke before this series and both felt Delcarmen would be a key factor if the club were to have success.

"Hopefully he still will be," said Francona.

The right-hander has above-average stuff with a fastball clocked between 95-97 MPH, a solid changeup and a good curveball. His command, however, has been off.

"Coming into every spring, people talk about him," Francona said. "He's got stuff like not a lot of people in the league have."

In the past, the young right-hander would dwell on a poor outing. But that's not so much the case anymore.

"He's done a much better job of that," Francona said. "[Friday] he came out and talked to [Farrell] about what hasn't gone right, or what he needs to do. He can look at it and not overwhelm himself."

It had been a concern in the past where Francona actually asked Farrell during the club's optional workout on Friday at Tropicana Field how Delcarmen was doing.

"He's trying to do better, but it's not like he's a young kid who's scared or overwhelmed," said Francona. "It hasn't gone his way. But he's come a long [with his maturity]."

 Tags  AlCS Manny Delcarmen Red Sox

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