If you're counting along with me, that's four. Every time Schourek faces a lefty, like last night, we are at a disadvantage. We're better off going with the hot hand, no matter what and ensuring that Varitek gets a blow when he needs it and not on some kind of Amtrak schedule. Why do it. Jimy compounds the mistake of taking Pichardo out by bringing in his closer, Derek Lowe, in a non-closer situation.
Closers have a crisis mindset.
Lowe would have been better off starting the ninth or coming on in the ninth if Pichardo had gotten into trouble. This indefensible mistake, by itself, cost the Sox the game. Then we have the spectacle of the ninth inning. The Sox have two outs, Nomar at third and O'Leary at first. They are professional hitters.