Tuesday Night: Sox Blow 10-1 Lead, Lose 11-10

The headline on Dirtdogs read, "Sox Blow the Biggest Lead in the History of Earth." That may have been an exaggeration, but it certainly didn't feel like it. The usually-solid Red Sox bullpen was handed a 10-1 lead last night and coughed it up in a horrible collapse that involved a Jonathan Papelbon blown save. It is the first time in 20 years that Boston has blow such a large lead. The Red Sox started out strong, getting 4 innings of 1-run ball from starter John Smoltz before his outing was cut short due to a rain delay. After the break the Sox simply did not have their heads in the game. That was never more apparent than in the bottom of the 6th when they embarrassed themselves by walking off the field after only two outs.