What a crazy game. The Sox blew a big lead in the 9th for the second time in 8 games, but came back with two in the bottom half to win. I know everyone will be asking what the Sox should do with Billy Koch, and for that I have no answers. But I also have a small beef with how Guillen is handling his starters.
Guillen made it known that he will let his starters try to pitch out of jams and will not be quick to yank them. It's great he has wants to show confidence in his pitchers, but he might want to think about a tighter leash late in the ballgame.
Today, Garland was cruising before running into the trouble in the 6th and 7th. Up 6-2 going into the 7th, Garland gave up a home run and then a single. Having thrown over 100 pitches, there was a good chance he was tired, and it probably would have been a good decision to put in a reliever to face Beltran. Not only would it have been a good game management decision, but it would also be a good idea to limit the amount of pitches the starters are throwing this early in the season.
On his 115th, and final pitch, Garland served up a two run homer to Beltran to make it 6-5.
It looked like the non-move would come back to haunt the Sox after Koch gave up 4 in the 9th. But the Sox came back to get the victory. I just hope Guillen's (ab)use of his starters doesn't come back to haunt the Sox in September.