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June 11, 2008
By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- Veteran Mike Timlin struggled once again, turning a 6-1 game in the ninth inning into a save situation for Jonathan Papelbon.
Not that all of it necessarily was his fault last night, but Timlin's 1,032nd career outing was a continuation of the troubles the 42-year-old right-hander has been having all season.
Last night Timlin was touched up for two runs, one of which was earned, on three hits, inflating his earned-run average to 6.16 in 21 appearances totaling 19 innings. Timlin has allowed a whopping 34 baserunners (25 hits, 9 walks) in those 19 innings.
The damage last night came on back-to-back doubles by Aubrey Huff and Kevin Millar, opening the inning. Of the leadoff batters Timlin has faced in his 21 innings, 10 have reached base safely.
Timlin then racked up two outs on a groundout to second and a scorched line drive to first, but second baseman Dustin Pedroia botched an hard-hit grounder for an error, keeping the inning alive. And pinch hitter Oscar Salazar ended Timlin's night by rolling a seeing-eye single through the shortstop hole, making it a 6-3 game and forcing manager Terry Francona to use Papelbon, who earned his 19th save.
Timlin and his catcher, Kevin Cash, were left bemoaning some bad luck.
"He made some good pitches," insisted Cash, who entered the game in the sixth for Jason Varitek (sick). "Probably the only pitch he might want back would be the one to Millar. He left that out over the plate a little too much."
"That's the way it has been all season," said Timlin, in his 18th year in the big leagues. "I've been throwing good pitches and not getting a lot to show for it. I got a couple of ground balls tonight. I believe in my guys behind me more than you'll ever know, but when I pitch, it doesn't seem to be happening for me. That's all."
Timlin was working for the first time in six days and only for the second time since May 30. That, though, wasn't a factor, he said.
"That's an excuse. You gotta be prepared every time you come in. You've got to be sharp, throwing strikes. I'm just getting beat up. That's all," said Timlin.
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 10:16 PM | Permalink
ED VIITA | June 12, 2008 7:31 AM link
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TIMLIN'S LAST YEAR. HE'S
BEEN OKAY FOR AWILE, BUI I THINK IT'S TIME TO
HANG IT UP AND GIVE SOME OF THE NEW GUYS A
SHOT.................