Gagne elicits gag reflex across Red Sox Nation

For one moment you weren't sure if you were watching Wedge or Lee Mazzilli.

The move changed the momentum of the game. It is true that Cleveland would later tie the score at six and keep fighting, but the Red Sox gained instant confidence after the three-run inning. The crowd that had been mostly silent started rocking.

But Boston couldn't hold on to that momentum, and then it was totally ruined by Gagne. The fall he has taken is amazing. From 2002-2004 Gagne successfully converted 84 straight save chances. Now he is a broken-down carcass of a pitcher who has a 6.75 ERA in 20 regular-season contests in Boston.

Now, he's booed whenever he's within a 20 mile radius of the ballpark.

Francona has to take a hit here as well for bringing Gagne in despite the limited options. Gagne is simply too risky to use no matter how bleak the pitching situation may be.

When asked if it is difficult to rally a team from a loss like this, Francona responded: "It's a long night for both teams. I wish we would have won. But no, if this does us in, we're not as good as we thought we were. It's a frustrating end to a really exciting game, but we'll get on a plane in a little while and go regroup and have a nice little workout ..."

They can regroup as long as Gagne is not there with his matches and lighter fluid.