BOSTON – Move over, Bucky Dent. Step aside, Bill Buckner. Make room, incredibly, for Jonathan Papelbon.
The star closer is the stunned symbol of the latest Red Sox collapse. This one lasted a month and finally ended when there were no more games left to lose.
“This is just maybe the worst situation that I ever have been involved in my whole career,” designated hitter David Ortiz said. “It’s going to stay in a lot of people’s minds for a while.”
No team has blown a bigger lead in September — a nine-game margin through Sept. 3 — and missed the playoffs. Boston went 6-18 after that and did not win consecutive games at any point in the month.
Stunning.
“This is one for the ages, isn’t it?” general manager Theo Epstein said, a blank stare on his face.
Boston began play Wednesday tied with Tampa Bay in the AL wild card race. But the Red
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