Series recap: Cleveland @ Sox

Sox win series, 2 games to 1
Game Results:
GM1: BOS 5-3 W-Schilling SV-Paps
GM2: BOS 4-2 W-Beckett SV-Oki
GM3: CLE 8-4 L-Matsuzaka

STATS:CLE/BOS
RUNS: 13/13
HITS: 31/27
AVG: .292/.267
HRs: 2/5
ERA: 4.68/4.33

COMPOSITE BATTERS BOX:

• Lugo: 3-9, R, 2BI, 2B, K-- got the night off in Gm3
• Youk: 5-14, 3R, 3RBI, 2-2Bs, 2HRs, K--extended hit streak to 22 games
• Papi: 1-4 in Gm3, sat 1st two games with hammy issues
• Manny: 3-10, 2R, RBI, 2-2Bs, HR, 2BBs--hard to believe the big kid turned 35
• Drew: 1-10, 3R, 2RBI, 2B, 2BBs, K--what slump busting? still sucking
• Lowell: 4-12, 2R, 3RBI, 3-2Bs, HR--continues to be consistently productive
• Tek: 3-10, R, 2RBI, 2B, HR, BB, 2Ks--5 of last 8 hits have been for xtra bases
• Coco: 0-12, 2 awesome catches--dropped avg. from .245 to .229
• Pedroia: 6-9, R, RBI, 2-2Bs, 2BBs--raised avg. from .279 to .308
• Cora: 1-4 in Gm3; has only played twice in last 9 games (see above)
• WMP: 0-7, BB, 3Ks--oh Wily Mo, will you ever be a productive pro?
• Belli: DNP--no Wake, no 'Belli
• Hinske: DNP--surprising with the way Drew's playing

COMPOSITE PITCHERS BOX:

• Schilling: 7IP, 6H, 1ER, 0BB, 10Ks, W--Schill's best start of '07
• Beckett: 7IP, 3H, 2ER, BB, 7Ks, W--welcome back, Becks!
• Matsuzaka: 5.2IP, 12H, 6ER, 0BB, 4Ks, 2HRs, L--Bad sushi? No. Bad pitching? Yes
• Romero: 1IP, 2H, 3ER, 3BBs, K, HR--not a great series for J.C.
• Lopez: 1IP, 1H, 0R, 1K--continues to be a 1-out wonder
• Donnelly: 1IP, 1H, 0R--"living on the edge, you can have yourself a ball..."
• Snyder: 1.1IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 2K--ERA now down to 1.53
• Pineiro: 1IP, 2H, 0R--continues to show improvement
• Okajima: 1IP, 0R, BB, 2Ks, SV--shaky lately but still solid
• Papelbon: 1IP, 2H, ER, BB, 2Ks, SV--ditto

SEASON SERIES: Sox lead, 2-1

RECAP:
It was a fun, eventful, and nostalgic series in Fenway as Trot Nixon returned to his old haunts for the first time this season, Josh Beckett returned from the disabled list to pitch a gem for his 8th win against no losses, and Kevin Youkilis provided the highlight of the season with his inside-the-park homerun in Game 1.

We were treated to three (well, 2 1/2) well-played, well-pitched and hard-fought contests between the two best teams in the American League, and although the games weren't high- scoring, there was plenty of excitement surging through the ballyard over the past few days.

Coco made two spectacular grabs, Jason Varitek blasted a home run over the Green Monster and onto the pavement beyond, Curt Schilling turned in his most dominant performance of the season, and our boy Youk extended his hitting streak to an awesome 22 games.

Add to that the return of one of Boston's most beloved former players, the original Dirt Dog himself, Trotter, and it made for a terrific three games played in excellent conditions (for a change) and once again Boston came away with a series victory over a quality opponent.

Now its time face the Feeble Empire again for a 3-game weekend set in Fenway, and with a 13 1/2 game lead over the Stanks, if the Sox should happen to pull the sweep it could mean lights out for the New York playoff hopes this year.