After two bad losses (a pitcher's duel and blowout), spanning the baseball spectrum of emotions, the Boston Red Sox (61-45) finally responded last night with a 9-2 win over the New York Yankees (58-46) in the series finale at Fenway.
The teams endured a 52-minute rain delay and yet another chapter in the ongoing Manny Ramirez-"I should never open my mouth" autobiography tour. Earlier in the day, Manny admitted in a call to ESPNdeportes that he's tired of the Red Sox and if they can get something fair in return they should trade him by Thursday's trade deadline.
Normally I don't get into the drama with Manny, the Boston media and national media goes over this seemingly every day of the year. Still, enough is enough. I wouldn't say this is the final nail in the coffin for Ramirez in my mind but I'll admit that I'm completely sick and tired of all the bullshit. He'll most likely continue to rake (like last night) and maybe even lead the Red Sox to another World Series championship in the fall but after this season, it's time to bid him adieu.
The current ownership group has been hamstrung by Dan Duquette's regime that signed Manny to such an absurd eight-year deal back in the good old days (2000). Manny has done nothing but put up hall-of-fame numbers since he's been here and helped Boston win two World Series titles but like an ex-girlfriend or old friend from high school or college, eventually time runs out and situations change.
As for the game last night, the Boston bats finally looked comfortable in David Ortiz's third game back from the DL. Dustin Pedroia (2 hits, run, RBI) was moved to the leadoff spot and he continued to scorch the ball. Jacoby Ellsbury was relegated to the ninth spot but he temporarily found his stroke (3 hits, run) that has been missing for months.
Sox manager Terry Francona admitted that the ideal Sox lineup has Ellsbury leading off (with his ridiculous speed) but for now it's best to leave Pedroia there while Ellsbury hopefully heats up.
Back together hitting third and fourth, Ortiz (2 hits, 2 runs, 3 RBIS) and Ramirez (3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) showed a national audience that when healthy they're still the best duo in baseball.
Jon Lester has officially taken over the role of Red Sox stopper for the season. Following five Red Sox losses, Lester has won four games and had a no-decision in the other (which Boston won). The guy is simply getting it done.
He improved to 9-3 and while he gave up nine hits in seven innings, he struck out eight and only walked one.
Yankees starter Sidney Ponson (6-2), who somehow had been great lately, showed his true form last night, giving up seven runs on ten hits in four innings.
Manny doubled home Kevin Youkilis in the first and Mike Lowell knocked in Ortiz and Manny with a two-run single, putting the Sox up 3-0 in the first.
Pedroia had a sacrifice fly in the second and Jason Varitek's RBI double in the third gave Boston a 5-0 lead.
Ortiz crushed a two-run shot to right in the fourth, his first homer in the majors since May 31.
The Yankees got their two runs in the fifth but it could have been much worse. Derek Jeter had an RBI on a jam-shot single that stayed fair down the third base line. Then Bobby Abreu walked with the bases full. A-Rod grounded out with the bases loaded and no outs, Xavier Nady popped out and Robinson Cano grounded out to end the threat.
Ortiz added a sac. fly in the sixth before Manny capped the scoring with another RBI, this time on a single.
Basically the only thing to come out of this series (besides the Manny garbage) was the Red Sox' dire need of a reliever. Saturday's painful loss highlighted the real lack of a dependable arm in the bullpen outside of Papelbon.
Boston is one game behind Tampa Bay and two ahead of New York. The Angels come to Fenway tonight to begin a three-game set.
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