Projo Sox Blog

By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON - As Brad Penny trudged off the mound with a giant number `7' already hanging on the Green Monster scoreboard over his shoulder, the members of the Boston Red Sox' bullpen quickly realized they were in for a busy night.
Penny allowed those seven Baltimore Oriole runs in just the second inning. He was done for the night after walking the leadoff hitter in the fourth inning. At that point, the Red Sox trailed, 7-5.
Over the remaining six innings, the Red Sox pen more than answered the call. A group of five pitchers limited the free-swinging Orioles to five hits and no runs as the Sox came from behind for a 10-8 victory at Fenway Park. Jonathan Papelbon picked up the save in the ninth inning, striking out pinch-hitter Felix Pie to end the game with his trademark fist-pump.
"Our job is to get the ball to Pap and we did that tonight," said reliever Manny Delcarmen. "It was definitely a big comeback and a fun night. It felt pretty good."
Penny was so rocky early that Francona had rookie Hunter Jones up as soon as the second inning. Jones was bypassed in favor of Delcarmen after Penny walked Adam Jones to lead off the fourth inning. A double by Nick Markakis scored Jones to give Baltimore an 8-5 lead but Delcarmen settled down and escaped the inning. He went on to hurl a perfect fifth inning and got two quick outs in the sixth.
"I came in and just wanted to keep the ball down and throw strikes," said Delcarmen, who struck out two hitters in his 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. "Our bats woke up and we came all the way back."
Javier Lopez was next but his stay was short. He allowed a walk and a single before Francona replaced him with Ramon Ramirez. A 27-year old who appears smaller than his listed 5-11 and 190 pounds, Ramirez retired Ty Wigginton on a fly ball to left to end the sixth inning threat. He breezed through the seventh and picked up an out to lead off the eighth. The Orioles scratched out two singles off Ramirez so Francona went to the pen yet again, this time for lefty Hideki Okajima.
With the Sox clinging to a 10-8 lead, Okajima forced Markakis to fly out to center and struck out the dangerous Aubrey Huff with a change-up.
"Their bullpen did a tremendous job," said Baltimore manager Dave Trembley. "Their bullpen came in and got the big outs in key situations and that was the difference in the game."
Ramirez is truly a find for the Sox. Acquired in November in the trade for Coco Crisp, Ramirez pitched 2.2 perfect innings and has blanked opponents over all 7.1 innings he's thrown this season.
"I'm still learning him, to be honest," catcher Jason Varitek said of Ramirez. "He's got some electric stuff."
Delcarmen, the Boston native now in his fifth season with the Red Sox, sees an impressive package of skills in Ramirez.
"I saw him pitch a little bit (in Kansas City) and his changeup is about 88-90, just overpowering," said Delcarmen. "And he has a great slider and throws 93-95. He throws his changeup and slider whenever he wants. He's a small guy but he's really talented and I think he's going to have a special season."
Delcarmen said he could see in spring training that this Red Sox bullpen could be a major strength. Set-up man Justin Masterson was tabbed Friday to make a start on Monday against the Orioles but this group is deep enough to hardly miss him.
"Coming out of spring training it seemed like our bullpen was going to be stacked," said Delcarmen. "We didn't know what we were going to be doing exactly but Tito was going to mix and match and everybody's throwing the ball well. We just want to get the ball to Pap."
Papelbon continues to show the stuff that makes him one of the elite closers in the game. Last night he picked up his third save in four tries and now owns a career 0.41 ERA in 22 career innings against the Orioles.

 Tags  Jonathan Papelbon Manny Delcarmen Red Sox

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