Bullpen falters to blow JD Drew's game-tying homer vs. Jays

Toronto 6, Boston 3
WP: Marcum (1-0)
LP: Aardsma (0-1)
SV: Accardo (2)
HRs: Bos-Drew (1); Tor-Stairs (1)

Superstar: Shawn Marcum 7IP, 3H, 3ER, 1BB, 8K, HR
Toronto's talented young righty stifled the Boston batters on 1 hit and no runs through 6 innings; his only blemish was the 3-run bomb he surrendered to JD Drew in the top of the 7th, which tied the game and could have cost him the win if it weren't for a horrid outing by Boston's bully.

The Biggest Loser(s): Boston pitchers 8IP, 10H, 6ER, 4BB, 6K, HR
Tim Wakefield did alright in his first start of the season--until he surrendered 3 runs in the 6th, starting with a solo shot from fellow AARP member Matt 'Lumpy' Stairs; after Drew tied the score at 3, reclamation project David Aardsma walked the only batter he faced, Javier Lopez surrendered a single to the only one he faced, and Mattapan Manny D., after recording two foul outs, served up a 2-run double to Big Frank Thomas to put the seal on this one.

RECAP:

Thankfully I didn't have the misfortune of catching this game tonight.

I went to a company-sponsored function at the Clearwater Threshers game, and suffice to say that game was more exciting--and fun--than this debacle. Throw in the fact that my son won $87 and change for tossing a tennis ball from the stands into a tire on the field after the game, and the decision to take in an A ball game on a beautiful Florida spring evening over this major league mess was a no-brainer.

Actually, from what I could gather from highlights and recaps, this game wasn't ALL bad; J.D. Drew did hit his first homer of the year to tie the game late; Tim Wakefield (6IP, 6H, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, HR) pitched pretty well and shut out the mighty Toronto lineup for 5 innings before stumbling in the 6th; and Wake's new personal catcher, Kevin Cash, had a double and no passed balls in his first game behind the dish.

That's where the good side of things end. The bad included Wake falling apart in the 6th when he gave up a home run, two singles, two walks and a wild pitch; Boston batters being held to four hits - Cash's double in the 3rd, a single by Mike Lowell followed by Drew's homer in the 7th, and a 9th inning single by Manny; and of course the collapse of the Boston pen, which was supposed to be the strength of the depleted pitching staff.

Maybe it had something to do with the Jays wearing the Garth Iorg-era powder blue unis.

After Delcarmen's latest effort, the time is coming where many in the Nation will doubt if he will ever have what it takes to be an effective set up man, let alone superstar closer some day. Blessed with a live arm and calm demeanor, he has what it takes to shut down opponents, yet time and time again he cannot seem to get the necessary outs the team must have to pull out games like this.

Had he been able to get Thomas, who was just 1-7 with 3 Ks against him before tonight, the game might have gone in a completely different direction. But after falling behind 2-1, Thomas put a big hurt on Delcarmen's next offering, slicing a double to the left center field gap to score David Eckstein and Shannon Stewart, and the game was essentially over.

Luckily for Boston they will have a chance to immediately redeem this loss when they take on the Jays for a 1:00 game Saturday afternoon. That's when two young studs, Clay Buchholz and Jesse Litsch-will try to see which one has the moxie to lead his team to a big win.

And if Buchholz can't pitch a complete game, maybe the bully will get the chance to prove that it can be the backbone of the staff, and not the Achilles heel.

RECORD: 3-2
AL EAST: Tied for 1st
UP NEXT: Sat @ Tor 1:00