BOSTON — John Farrell has handed the ball to Craig Breslow seven times in October, and the result was always the same.
The Yale graduate and son of Trumbull was a postseason star as the Red Sox marched to the World Series. He allowed just three hits in seven scoreless innings, standing as a vital cog in a bullpen that’s been the team’s greatest strength.
So when he took over with a one-run lead in Game 2 of the World Series, there was a sense of security at Fenway Park. In a matter of minutes, the feeling evaporated and Breslow was retreating to the dugout with his head down.
There was a walk, a sacrifice fly, two errors and a single. The lead turned into a deficit and the tide of the series shifted.