After the Red Sox took a 5-1 lead in the top of the eighth Friday against the Orioles, Eric Gagne gave it all back Friday while recording just one out.
It's nice that his players like him and all that, but Terry Francona really can be an awful manager when he gets the chance.
The Orioles had left-handers Corey Patterson and Nick Markakis due up to start the eighth, but Francona went to Gagne over Hideki Okajima.
A double, an RBI single and a walk followed. Gagne finally recorded the first out on a tapper back to the mound.
He actually bobbled the ball and only got the out because it happened to be Kevin Millar plodding to first.
Aubrey Huff, another lefty, then doubled to right to bring the Orioles within one.
That finally got Okajima into the game -- now against a righty -- and an RBI grounder through the infield tied it.
This game was another example of Francona over managing and it costed Dice K a win, who went 7 solid innings only allowing a run.
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