BOSTONFelix Doubront had thrown 99 pitches over six innings, and had given his team a comfortable eight-run lead to guard for the final three innings against the Yankees Saturday.
There was no reason for manager Bobby Valentine not to go to his bullpen.
Until he saw what his relievers unleashed.
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Leading 9-1 going into the seventh inning, the bullpen was bad by near-historic proportions. Five relievers combined to allow 14 runs, 13 earned, over three innings. It marked the most runs allowed by the Red Sox bullpen since it gave up 17 runs (nine earned) on June 19, 2000, in a 22-1 loss to the Yankees. The 13 earned runs were the most Sox relievers have given up since 15 in a 17-7 loss in Minnesota on Aug. 10, 1994.
The last time the Red Sox blew a nine-run lead to the Yankees was June 26, 1987, in Yankee Stadium.
Valentine used every reliever except Scott Atchison. Allexcept for Junichi Tazawa who pitched the final 1 13 innings without giving up a run -- were equally ineffective. Vicente Padilla gave up five runs. Matt Albers gave up two. Franklin Morales, one. Alfredo Aceveswho entered in the eighth for what was a six-out save situationgave up five. Justin Thomas, one.
Padilla gave up a grand slam to Nick Swisher in the seventh. Albers gave up a three-run homer to Mark Teixeira later in the inning.
Aceves was charged with the loss (0-1) -- and his second blown savewhen he gave up a go-ahead, two-run double to Swisher in the eighth.
The five runs Aceves allowed were a career high and the second-highest total in his career, behind eight runs in a start on May 31, 2011. His ERA is now a stratospheric 24.00.
Padillas five runs are also a career high in relief.
Albers faced two batters, failing to record an out.
Valentine said he has not lost confidence in his relief corps.
Theyre my guys, he said.
Its definitely frustrating, Albers said. We have a lead and as a member of the bullpen when you have a lead we want to be able to shut it down and obviously we werent able to do that.
I think everyone went in with a good plan. I know for myself I felt good out there. It just seemed that the balls that were left over the plate werent missed and balls found the holes, and obviously it just kind of spiraled a little bit.
I think you just try to put it behind you. Think about it tonight and go over it. But tomorrow just have to come back ready to pitch and be on the aggressive.
Theres no excuse, Padilla said, with first base coach Alex Ochoa interpreting.
You try to do your best and it's frustrating to have a lead like then when the hitters did a job like that and gave us a lead. Its frustrating not to get the job done.