A-Rod, still choking in the clutch like noneother

For only one game, last night provided immense pleasure for a Red Sox fan. The Sox beat the Yankees, 7-3, in game one of the last Sox-Yankees series at Yankee Stadium.

Secondly, A-Rod shat the bed in epic proportions. He was 0-for-5, grounded into two double plays (one with the bases loaded), made an error and struck out twice (once to end the game). At least he has that hag Madonna to console him as the Yankees' (70-61) season continues to fall apart.

Fresh off the DL, Tim Wakefield (8-8) pitched five innings to get the win. Wake gave up three runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Andy Pettitte, who had such a great start to the season, can't seem to get untracked lately. Boston (76-55) made the lefty throw 101 pitches in 4.2 innings. Pettitte allowed six runs (all earned) on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

In total, the Sox banged out 14 hits and worked seven walks from the Yankees subpar bunch of relievers. Coco Crisp led the way with three hits, a run, an RBI and a steal. David Ortiz had two doubles, two walks and a run. Jason Bay and Jeff Bailey each added two hits and two RBIs while Kevin Cash added two hits.

Johnny Damon was the lone brightspot for the Yanks. He hit a solo homer in the first and another solo shot in the fifth.

Jacoby Ellsbury tied it at 1 in the second with an RBI single. Jose Molina gave New York its last lead in the second with an RBI single.

Boston scored twice in the third on Kevin Youkilis's RBI double and a Bay RBI single. The Sox opened it up with three more in the fifth. Coco knocked in Bay with a single and Jeff Bailey brought home two with an infield single that Jason Giambi forgot to throw home (he was too busy growing his moustache, damn it).

Jason Bay's sacrifice fly in the sixth was the last run for the good guys.

Hideki Okajima got the first two outs in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon came on to recorded his 34th save after retiring four Yankees hitters.

Paul Byrd goes for the Sox tonight against Sidney Ponson, something you probably didn't expect to say at the beginning of the season.

The Opposite of a Pitcher's Duel

After staging a pitcher's duel just five days earlier, Clay Buchholz and Chien-Ming Wang served up nothing but batting practice last night at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees hammered the Red Sox, 15-9.

Buchholz went 3.2 innings, giving up eight hits, seven runs (all earned), one walk and two strikeouts.

Wang went four innings, giving up nine hits, eight runs (all earned), three walks and two strikeouts. Yankees middle reliever LaTroy Hawkins earned the win as he threw two scoreless innings which on this night was analogous to a classy girl in the porn industry. Brian Bruney added the save.

Boston (9-7) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first after Manny Ramirez hit a laser RBI double. New York (9-7) answered in the bottom of the inning when Bobby Abreu (two-run) and A-Rod hit back-to-back homers.

Down 7-3 after four, the Red Sox jumped ahead with six in the fifth to go up 9-7. You wouldn't expect Julian Tavarez to hold a precarious lead like that in the Bronx and true to form, Freddie Kruger (1.1 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs-3 earned, 2 walks, 1 strikeout) was a nightmare as he took the loss.

The Yankees stepped on the Red Sox' throat with four in the eighth. Mike Timlin gave up four runs on three hits in the ugly frame.

For the game, Boston pounded out 14 hits which was slightly trumped by New York's 16. Manny and J.D. Drew had three hits while Dustin Pedroia and Sean Casey had two apiece.

Yankees backup backup catcher Chad Moeller led the way with three hits. Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, A-Rod, Hideki Matsui and Posada each had two hits. Jacoby Ellsbury was the only starter on either team to not record a hit.

Josh Beckett opposes Mike Mussina tonight in the finale of this two-game set. Relievers for both teams must be praying for deep outings.