Even 2 hours, 11 minutes Can't Phase Pap - Jenn

It's the top of the 8th inning. Pap was in the bullpen warming. Oakjima was on the mound. The score was 4-3 Sox. The clouds were swarming over Fenway. This is what games are made of. This is when you're on the edge of your seat, gnawing on your nails. It's a one run game and the evil empire has already taken the first of the series.

The first batter Okajima faced was Gonzalez who grounded out to Lugo. Then Johnny Demon (you remember our center fielder who went to the dark side for a little extra money) flied out to right when JD Drew made an Ellsbury/Crisp-type diving catch. 2 out, nobody on. But then there was a four pitch walk to Cabrera and Abreu lined up the middle. Suddenly the Bronx Bombers are threatening with two men on and A Rod (the reigning American League MVP) coming to the plate. It's time for Papelbon. And Francona agreed. He signaled to the bullpen and out came our closer.

That should've been the end of it. The game should've been over. But Mother Nature got involved. The clouds opened up and the rain started to fall. Pap sits down, the tarps come out and now we wait. And wait. After an hour there was hope when Pap started warming up again and they pulled the tarps back. But the rain wasn't finished, the tarps came back out and Pap was forced to take his seat once more.

During this 2 hour delay we saw the Diamondbacks crush Colorado in a 10-3 victory, heard about the upcoming Subway Fresh NASCAR race and learned a little bit more about the Sox closer. Did you know he likes Metallica and the Dropkick Murphys? Did you know he wrote a children's book? Neither did I. And at this moment, I didn't really care. Just play the rest of the game or call it, but don't keep me in this agony. And just in case the two hour delay wasn't horrible enough, Fox decided to show us the last time Pap faced A Rod. June of '07, again with the game on the line. A Rod homered and the Yanks won the game 6-5. Ouch. It was like they were jinxing the final inning and a third before Pap even got the chance to pitch. One time seeing this blast from the past was unnecessary, but the half dozen times they showed it, well that's just plain mean.

Finally after two hours the rain stopped and Pap took his place in the bullpen for the third time. Now a closer usually comes out in the 9th, sometimes in the 8th, gets his outs and saves the game. He usually only has to warm up once. But tonight Pap warmed up three times which means he threw more pitches than he's accustomed to in one outing. And that means, when he's finally ready to face the opposing team on the mound he may be done before he's even started. This is what Francona was thinking when he went to his closer and asked him if he thought he could get A Rod out. Like a lot of managers, Francona trusts his pitchers. He trusted Papelbon to be honest with him and let him know if he really could take out one of the best batters in the league. Pap said yes. And with that the Sox closer took the mound and Rodriguez stepped into the batters box.

But just in case Papelbon couldn't get A Rod out Francona had Timlin and Lopez warming up in the bullpen. All I could think was please no, not Timlin. Not again. Papelbon has to get Rodriguez out.

First pitch - a 95 mph fast ball that A Rod fouled back. Then the 89 mph splitter that A Rod swung on and missed. And finally a 96 mph fast ball that Papelbon blew by the MVP. Three strikes, he's out and we go to the bottom of the 8th. It may have taken 2 hours and 11 minutes for Pap to throw his first official pitch of the evening. But it only took a minute and 15 seconds to get the most important out of the game.

In the bottom of the 8th the Sox didn't even make it on base, which means it's onto the 9th and one last chance to save this game and get Beckett his first win. But the real question is, who's pitching. Will Tito allow the Sox closer to finish what he started or is the ball going to another reliever? Thankfully, Francona stuck to his word and trusted Papelbon to do what he does best - save this game.

After getting the count to 2-2, Pap throws a 97 mph fast ball and Giambi goes down swinging. One down. Posada steps in. After two strikes, a foul, two balls, and two more fouls, Pap got Posada to swing at his signature 96 mph fast ball and strike out. That's two. Now the only thing that stands between Papelbon and the the Sox getting their first win of the series is Robinson Cano.

First pitch is a ball. Then a swinging strike. Then a pitch that should have been a strike but got away from the closer to make the count 2-1. Cano fouls the next pitch back and it's 2-2. Another ball and it's now a full count. You can cut the tension with a knife. I can't even breathe. A foul down the first baseline. Then another down the third. Then Cano fouls it back to stay alive. And then -- the Subway Fresh NASCAR race. I'm sorry, the SUBWAY FRESH NASCAR RACE?! Are you f-ing kidding me? It's a full count! It's the top of the 9th inning! This could be the tying run. What the f***?!

I quickly picked up the remote and switched the channel to FX, but by that time, the game was over. Yes, we won. But I have no idea how Papelbon got Cano out. I know he didn't strike out, but I don't know if he grounded to the infield or flew to the outfield. All I know is that Fox decided to switch to a stupid NASCAR race during a very tense moment during a very tense game. Helloooo, can anyone out there say Heidi? (Thanks Dad.)

Now, I'm sure Joe Buck has more important things to do than read this blog, but in case his eyes happen to find it, a word of advice. IF you're going to switch to another sporting event during a tense game between the two biggest rival in sports might I suggest one of two options. A split screen or even better, switch BETWEEN BATTERS! Give those of us that don't give a s*** about NASCAR the opportunity to change channels without missing a thing. Just an idea.

Anyway that's four saves for my beloved closer and a tie going into today's final game. While I doubt Pap will be on the mound after yesterday's see-saw, Dice-K will and barring any screw-ups from the relief we may just take this series.