Hospitality, New York Style; the Yankees Make the Sox Feel Right at Home.
Let’s be clear about one thing: no one ever won a pennant in June. And this year’s pennant will be no exception; it’s going to be decided in September, or maybe even October. Still, it helps to be playing well in June, especially against division rivals. So that’s to say that the Sox helped their chances for 2011 by going into the Bronx, and for the second time this season taking three from the Yankees.
They won the first two games at the plate, by outslugging NY, and it looked like old times, with Ortiz hammering the ball into the right field stands. Even a less than spectacular outing from Jon Lester did not keep Boston from winning the opening game, a game that was highlighted by Papi’s two-run bomb, as he now calls them. This was one of those nights when the pitching wasn’t great, but was good enough to allow the bats to bring home a win. Been a lot of that lately. Game two featured Wakefield’s 196th win; another two-run bomb from Ortiz; and a strong performance from Aceves, who went three and two-thirds innings, saving the rest of the bullpen.
Last night was the third time that Sabathia and Beckett had squared off this season, and for the third time, Beckett got the win. CC looked like he was in control until the seventh, despite his slight lapse in the fourth, when he drilled Ortiz on the hip. There was no protest from the Boston dugout, because Beckett had already hit Jeter, not to mention that Lester drilled Texeira on the knee in the opening game, and a couple other guys had got hit along the way as well. But Sabathia may have picked the wrong guy to hit, as Ortiz started the seventh inning with a single; then came home on Lowrie’s triple into the right field corner; and then later in the inning, knocked in two more runs with a double to the base of the wall in left. A seven-run outburst in the top of the seventh was more than enough to get Beckett his win, and to insure a sweep for the Sox. And to allow Boston to escape NY atop the AL East.
So Boston leaves NY for Toronto ten games ahead of five hundred for the first time in 2011. They haven’t played well in the Rogers Center of late, so who knows whether they will return home with a lead in the AL East? But for now, it’s good to know the team can go into NY and play with confidence, because come October, they may find themselves playing in NY once again.
posted by pops | 6:49 AM
2 Comments:
Berg,
June may not win a pennant but you are playing like you'll be there.
Your trip to The Bronx was a huge disappointment for me and my prediction to take 2 out of 3. Being swept is unacceptable. That is how I felt Friday morning.
As of Sunday night I feel a little bit consoled. The Yankees have taken the first 3 out of 4 from the Tribe. While the redsox humiliated the Bluejays even more than than did the Yankees. I have said all along that the redsox have the best line-up in baseball. The addition of Gonzales and Crawford make the rest of the line-up long and Pappi has the best protection since Manny days. I have also said the health will be the decider. On that point the redsox also are better off than the Yankees especially in pitching. Your pitching is pretty much in tack except for Dice-K. Our pitching is another story. The starting rotation is 40% of last year and our best acquisition Colon at 37 for $900,000 is now on the DL. Our bullpen is now down 4 pitches (we lost Joba for the season) from Opening Day.
Now I will wipe my tears and be happy the Yankees have the second best record in the AL. It may be one of those seasons that the redsox run away with it and the Yankees easily win the wild card. My fears that the wild card may come out of another division don't seem as real today. The AL East beats up on everyone and the redsox and the Yankees seem good enough to beat the AL East rivals.
So I may have to be content with second place and hosting next years Hater's Ball. I have not conceded but the Yankees will need a lot more pitching to beat the current redox.
G-man
Berg, you are right it's only June, but the Globe pointed out today that in six games against the Yankees and Blue Jays, the Sox scored 60 runs, hit .330, and collected 33 extra-base hits. And over the weekend the Sox outscored the Blue Jays, 35-6. So let's savor the moment. Go Sox!
Chipper
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