Game of Attrition

Several hours before it would ultimately end, today's game seemed well in hand. Jonathan Papelbon was on to pitch the top of the ninth in what seemed like an otherwise routine 7-3 Sox win. And that's when all hell broke loose. Without adrenaline to fuel him, Papelbon does seem a lesser pitcher, and he began the inning giving up a single to A's second baseman Mark Ellis. Paps then walked the second hitter he faced, Oakland first baseman Daric Barton. Once things had been made challenging, Papelbon bucked up and struck out catcher Landon Powell for the first out of the inning -- but this was no three-pitch K. Paps was quickly up 0-2 on the burly Powell, and then ran the count full and had a pitch fouled off before putting him away. That's when old buddy Coco Crisp stepped to the plate. No doubt about it: Dustin Pedroia screwed up. On the first pitch from Papelbon, the ball came off Coco's bat straight for him at second base...and kept going right through him into ...