Absolutely Awful

Abysmal night in San Francisco for the Red Sox on Friday.

They looked like crap in the clutch all night (2 for 11 with runners in scoring position, runners left everywhere). Left the bases loaded three times in the last four innings (scored just once, in the ninth) , and two on in the inning in-between. Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run dinger in the first, and that was the high water mark of the night.

They played a sloppy game in the field. Why in God's name did Tim Wakefield throw to first on Jonathan Sanchez' bunt?

More questions:

Why did Terry Francona bring in the putrid Ramon Ramirez in the eighth while the game was still close? Naturally he gave up a run in the inning, and the Sox got one back in the ninth and fell one run short. The guy is a garbage time pitcher, and should at all costs not be brought into any kind of close game.

The bullpen continues to be the Red Sox' Achilles heel.

And why was J.D. Drew sitting on the bench in the ninth? Tito let Bill Hall and Darnell McDonald hit while Drew sat. I know that if the Sox grabbed the lead, he would have to have gone out to RF for the ninth. I'm sure that would be his excuse for not using him.

The Red Sox deserved to lose this game. But looming more ominous is that Dustin Pedroia left the game early after fouling off a ball off his foot, and they said later there was no break. But Pedroia was seen after the game leaving the park on crutches.

I've got a bad feeling about this. And I pray I am wrong. Boy, do I ever.