NESN

Andrew Bailey, Vicente Padilla Spoil Chance to Cap Memorable Game for Red Sox

Editor's
note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby
Valentine's words. Each game day, we will select a Valentine quote that sums up
the day for the Red Sox.

For the second straight game, all momentum collapsed in one
inning.

During Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Rays, the Red Sox caved in
the decisive ninth inning –– a day after falling apart in the sixth. But
entering the bottom of the ninth frame, the Red Sox owned a 4-1 lead.

The game appeared in hand with closer Andrew Bailey, who was
5-for-6 in save opportunities, coming in. Instead, he uncharacteristically
unraveled by allowing five runs and four hits in 1/3 inning of an inning.

With the game deadlocked at four apiece, Vicente Padilla
spelled Bailey and attempted to minimize the damage. But Tampa's B.J. Upton
unloaded on Padilla's fastball and delivered a walk-off shot to end the game.

Just like that, a shot at victory resulted in heartbreaking
defeat.

"We
would've liked to take another win, but we couldn't," Red Sox manager
Bobby Valentine told reporters of the series.

"It was a really good game up until then. There were a lot
of good things that happened in that game. It ended on a sour note."

It turned into an anti-climactic scene, considering that one
inning before shortstop Jose Iglesias launched his first career major league
home run. He capped his memorable day with a three-hit performance.

Shortly after Iglesias rounded the bases, he received the silent
treatment from his teammates in the dugout. After he took off his arm pads,
everyone exploded and offered him high-fives.

"I'm going to stay positive no matter what every single day
and try to get better," the shortstop told reporters. "When you stay
positive in this game and you don't focus on the results, good things are going
to happen."

But in a span of minutes, the positive feelings disintegrated.
In addition to spoiling Iglesias' career night, Bailey and Padilla also negated
seven shutout innings from starter Clay Buchholz — who was in line for the
victory.

"There's nothing that I did right that inning," Bailey
told reporters. "It's inexcusable. I've got to find a way to get out of
that inning … Buchholz deserved a lot better of an outcome than that."

It's
just another obstacle in a season's worth of troubles for the Red Sox.