I've been thinking about this for a few days and it seems like at the end of every season, we look back at a few games that were lost, that should have been won. It's normally tough to remember those games and when they happened.
I hope we get to come back here at the end of September and say it didn't matter to the season. Maybe this thread sucks because it happens to each team, so no big deal. Opposite thread could be the "Games the Sox didn't deserve to win", which seems better anyway.
So, starting 2018:
Game 1, Red Sox at Rays, leading 4-0 going into the bottom of the 8th, Joe Kelly brought in and walks a batter, then gets a K. 5 outs away from a win. A double scores a run, another walk and then just for fun, a walk to load the bases. Pitching change brings in Carson Smith who promply walks in a run, then gets a K. 4-2 lead, 4 outs away, bases loaded and then bases cleaned up with a triple and a 5-4 deficit. Infield single leads to another run, then the Sox are finally able to get out of the inning, down 6-4.
Cause of loss is the 8th inning bullpen meltdown of 4 walks, 3 hits (double, triple, single).
I hope we get to come back here at the end of September and say it didn't matter to the season. Maybe this thread sucks because it happens to each team, so no big deal. Opposite thread could be the "Games the Sox didn't deserve to win", which seems better anyway.
So, starting 2018:
Game 1, Red Sox at Rays, leading 4-0 going into the bottom of the 8th, Joe Kelly brought in and walks a batter, then gets a K. 5 outs away from a win. A double scores a run, another walk and then just for fun, a walk to load the bases. Pitching change brings in Carson Smith who promply walks in a run, then gets a K. 4-2 lead, 4 outs away, bases loaded and then bases cleaned up with a triple and a 5-4 deficit. Infield single leads to another run, then the Sox are finally able to get out of the inning, down 6-4.
Cause of loss is the 8th inning bullpen meltdown of 4 walks, 3 hits (double, triple, single).