Timlin falters again as Red Sox drop 11-inning heartbreaker to Tampa Bay

Terry Francona had a choice. With every other reliever used in the bullpen except two, the Red Sox manager could turn to Paul Byrd (who is prone to serving up the long ball but consistently throws strikes) or Mike Timlin (who this year has either walked or allowed a hit to a high percentage of batters he has faced) in the bottom of the 11th inning last night at Tropicana Field. Francona summoned Timlin, and the result was predictable.

The 42-year-old right-hander, who has nothing left in his tank and should not even be part of the ALCS roster, walked the first two batters in the 11th, retired Jason Bartlett an a ground ball that advanced the runners to second and third, issued an intentional pass to Akinori Iwamura and then surrendered a walk-off sacrifice fly to B.J. Upton as Tampa Bay edged Boston 9-8 and evened the American League Championship Series at 1-1.

After grabbing a 1-0 series lead on Friday night, Boston appeared to be in prime position with Josh Beckett on the mound to start Game Two. Obviously, Beckett is not fully recovered from his oblique injury as he was ineffective for the second consecutive time this post-season. The Red Sox ace coughed up six runs in the first three innings and overall allowed eight runs and nine hits (including three home runs) in 4.1 innings.

Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir was ineffective, too. The Red Sox reached him for three home runs, including two from Dustin Pedroia, and five runs and six hits in 4.1 innings overall. Boston and Tampa Bay combined for seven home runs in the game. Jason Bay added a solo shot off Grant Balfour in the fifth inning and Kevin Youkilis had a solo home run that inning as well joining Pedroia, who hit one of his two dingers to lead off the fifth. The Sox trailed 8-7 in the top of the eighth and tied the game when Pedroia scored on Dan Wheeler's wild pitch. The game-winning run in the 11th was the lone run allowed by the bullpen in 5.1 innings, though Javier Lopez permitted an RBI single to Carl Crawford in the fifth and the run was charged to Beckett.

The ALCS shifts to Fenway Park, where the Red Sox will host Game Three on Monday, Game Four on Tuesday and Game Five on Thursday. New October ace Jon Lester gets the start for Boston in Game Three. Matt Garza takes the ball for the Rays. Monday's game is important for the Sox since Tim Wakefield is the scheduled starter for Game Four. Without a doubt, Lester exudes more confidence right now than Wakefield.

As for Beckett, because of his oblique injury, he is more of a question than the answer. Will he be able to right himself in time for his next start? Ideally, Boston will win all three games at Fenway Park and allow Beckett more time to heal before he makes his next appearance. Chances are, though, Beckett will not be his vintage October self this month because an oblique injury can only get better with time, which Beckett nor the Red Sox have.

Just as Beckett's health is a question, so is Francona's head-scratching decision to forego Byrd for Timlin, who created his own problems by walking the first two hitters he faced. Pitching coach John Farrell disagreed with the ball and strike calls in the 11th and was ejected by the home plate umpire. Unfortunately, for the Red Sox, Timlin would have likely found a way to serve up the game-winning run on a walk or a hit. If there is another extra inning game in the ALCS, hopefully Francona will make the right decision and give the ball to Byrd. At least this way he will know that, if the Rays are going to beat the Sox, they will earn the victory with hits and not be given the win with walks.