When A Closer Doesn't

Well, while last night's loss to the Rays wasn't what anyone who follows the Sox wanted, it was marginally acceptable as the Hose had won the other two games in the series. So, off to the Motor City to face the Bengals. The Sox starter, Lackey did a good job for his seven innings, allowing a pair of runs, while getting 5 K's and having a game WHIP of 1.14 He left as the pitcher of record for a possible W because the Hose, who had finished his last inning tied at 2, had picked up the lead run on a Papi base hit at the top of the next inning; score 3-2, Sox. He'd also provided the game's first run on his 15th bomb of the season on the first pitch of that at bat. Enter the Hose pen. Uehara did an excellent job, tossing a perfect 8th on just ten pitches, picking up a K along the way. That got us to the 9th, still holding that same 3-2 lead. This is when you bring in your closer. All he has to do is slam the door on the other team. Unfortunately, in what's becoming an all too common occurrence, he couldn't. In April and May, Bailey was virtually untouchable. In June, even when he has gotten a save or win, he's been all too touchable--in the extreme! Tonight, unfortunately, was no different. Victor Martinez (remember him?) walks on five pitches as the leadoff batter. Jhonny (that's actually the way he "spells" his name) Peralta, who often has been a real pain in the Sox collective ass, comes up, works the count to 1-2 and then positively launches the ball into the cheaps in left. Game over. Another BS (blown save) for Bailey, and a loss to boot. This closer's ERA is now over 4--not exactly what you expect from a closer. Since Hanrahan is gone for the season with Tommy John surgery, Bailey is the man.  At least he's supposed to be. We're still in first, but that margin is now down to a single game. Farrell's coming to a point where he has to seriously consider whether to stay much longer with Bailey or slide someone into the slot, Tazawa, perhaps.
To make matters worse, tonight was the perfect game for the Hose to win. The league's best hitter, Miggy Cabrera, was K'd three times! That's not a typo. It also happens about once a decade. His running mate, Prince Fielder, managed a solitary single in four AB's. And, to make your evening (as well as the Bosox') that much worse, the Sox left nine on base (to the Tigers' five), including three in the 8th and a man on third in the 9th. A solid hit in either situation very well might have turned things completely around! Very frustrating--and now all I can do for the balance of the evening is watch the NBA game 7--and the Celtics aren't even in it. I;m rooting for SA simply because Tim Duncan was to have been drafted by the C's, but, somehow, he ended up with the Spurs instead. See ya' in Motown again tomorrow.