Papelbon Takes Blame For Loss, 'This Game Is On Me'
BOSTON (CBS) – Jonathan Papelbon could not close the door on the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night, and won't let anyone else on the Red Sox take the blame for it.
"This game is on me. We were put in a situation where the team needed me (and) I didn't come through," said Papelbon after Boston's 7-5 loss. "I don't want to hear anything tomorrow about Tito bringing in guys early, the lineup not coming through, or anything else. This game is on me."
"My job when I'm called on is to go out there and finish the game," Papelbon said only his second blown save of the season. "I didn't do that, so this game is on me and I take full responsibility for that."
Papelbon After Blown Save
The Boston closer came on in the eighth inning with two on and one out, replacing Daniel Bard who gave up a pair of singles. After striking out Chris Davis on three pitches, Nolan Riemold loaded the bases with a single into left on an 0-2 count.
The very next batter, second baseman Robert Andino delivered a bases-clearing double for his third hit of the night. It also came on an 0-2 pitch for his third hit of the night.
Papelbon said he needs to make sure he finishes guys off, and was more upset about the 0-2 pitch to Riemold that kept the Orioles alive.
"Unacceptable," Papelbon said of Riemold pitch. "(It) was about execution. I have to put guys down 0-2."
"I take pride in the team leaning on me. Tonight I wasn't able to get it done. It was poor execution on my part," he said.
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The Red Sox lost a golden opportunity to pick up ground on the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card Race, who were shutout by the Yankees 5-0. But Boston will put the loss behind them, and move forward with seven games left.
"There's no reason for us to sit here and say, `The walls are crumbling down, start panicking.' That's not going to happen in this clubhouse," said Papelbon. "Nobody's going to hand us any wins. We've got to go out there and get it on our own."
"We have to come back tomorrow and keep grinding it out," he said.
