"The mood in Boston and on NESN was somber as a funeral."Move over, Bucky Dent, there’s a new chapter in the unfathomable lore of the Boston Red Sox.
Last night, the Red Sox became the first team in baseball history to miss the playoffs after entering September with a nine-game lead for a playoff spot. They were leading the Tampa Bay Rays by nine games on September 3rd, but they ended up in second place.
The two teams entered the final day of regular season action tied. The Red Sox held a 3-2 lead over the Baltimore Orioles, entering the ninth inning while, at the same time, the Rays trailed the New York Yankees 7-0 in the bottom of the eighth.
Within the hour, the tables turned. Shockingly, Jonathan Papelbon blew it for the Red Sox after registering two outs and two strikes. As the Orioles stunned the Red Sox 4-3, the Rays completed their own epic comeback, and within the hour, Evan Longoria ripped his 31st home run of the year -- and second of the game -- to propel the Rays to postseason.
The mood in Boston and on NESN was somber as a funeral. After the Red Sox played like the best team in baseball for four months of the season, this sour September won’t soon be forgotten
They did have company last night, though, as the Atlanta Braves, who held a 10.5-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Wild Card, also blew it last night. All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, who had been so reliable all season, blew the save in the ninth, and the Braves would go on to lose in the 13th inning and allow the Cardinals to complete their remarkable comeback.
