The AL East, not the joke it once was

It's a little over a quarter of a way through the 2008 season but I think it's fair to say that the American League East is much improved over the last few seasons.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in first place. The Orioles are over .500 and the Blue Jays have arguably the best rotation in baseball (definitely the AL) but no hitters. The Red Sox seem built for the long haul despite their recent struggles and the Yankees are nothing special.

Baltimore beat Boston, 6-3, yesterday at Camden Yards. The Sox (24-19) lost its fourth in a row and fifth out of six games. The road trip wrapped up with a disappointing 4-6 mark.

For the third consecutive game, Boston blew a three-run lead. The Sox were up 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth but the Orioles got two in the sixth and then Jay Payton hit a grand slam off Hideki Okajima in the seventh to give the Orioles (21-19) the winning margin.

The terrible work by the bullpen wasted a nice outing by Jon Lester. The lefty went six innings, giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Javy Lopez was charged with a run, Craig Hanson (0-2) was charged with two and Okajima was responsible for one.

Even though his ERA (.93) is still under one, Okajima has been much less reliable so far this season versus last year. He's allowing most of his inherited runners to score, never a good thing.

Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits, one run and a stolen base. Kevin Youkilis notched two doubles while Mike Lowell (two hits) and Jason Varitek (two hits) each added solo home runs.

We witnessed a Manny moment as Ramirez made a fine catch of a rope by Kevin Millar. After securing the running catch, Manny propelled himself off the outfield wall, high-fived a Boston fan then relayed it to Dustin Pedroia, who doubled off the runner at first.

Daniel Cabrera (4-1) who is usually terrible against Boston picked up the win after going seven innings. He gave up three runs with three strikeouts. The AL leader in walks allowed last season, he didn't allow one yesterday. George Sherill scattered two hits in the ninth but was able to pick up his 15th save.

The Red Sox get a day off today and then host the Milwaukee Brewers tomorrow in the first appetizer of interleague play.