Series Recap: Sox @ Stanks

New York wins series, 2-1

Game Results:
GM1: NYY 6-2
GM2: BOS 7-3
GM3: NYY 8-3

STATS: BOS/NYY
RUNS: 12/ 17
HITS: 30/ 29
XBHs: 11/ 11
AVG: .283/ .293
HRs: 3/4
ERA: 5.76/ 4.00

Composite Box:

• Lugo: 1-14, 2R, RBI- the time has come to drop him from leadoff
• Youk: 6-14, 3R, 4-2Bs, 2RBI-another huge series for the versatile infielder
• Papi: 4-9, 2B, 2R, 3RBI-no power stats, but keeps getting hits
• Manny: 4-13, 2B, 2R, HR, 3RBI-his Gm2 homer helped Sox save sweep
• Lowell: 4-12, R, 2-2Bs, HR, 2RBI- hitless in opener, 2 each in Gms 2 &3
• Tek: 1-6, 2BBs-has hit in 7 of 9 games
• Drew: 0-9, 2Ks- ended five innings in 2 games, sat the finale
• Coco: 3-10, 2R, HR, RBI, 3BBs- hit 1st HR in 49 games in Gm3
• Pedroia: 3-8, K-raised his avg. 16 pts in last week (.253-.269)
• Cora: 1-3-only played in one game of series
• WMP: 2-4, 2B- badly misplayed two balls in RF in Gm3 start
• Hinske: DNP
• 'Belli: 1-4- Gm1 single only 2nd hit in last seven games (2-20)

Pitching Composite Box:

• Wakefield: 5IP, 9H, 6ER, 5BB, 2K, 2HRs, L-should never start vs. NY again
• Tavarez: 5.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 4BB, 2K, W-Leatherface turned just 34 (?@!) on Fri
• Schilling: 6IP, 12H, 6ER, 0BB, 3, 2HRs, L-all'd 5ERs for 3rd time in Gm3
• Donnelly: 1IP,2H,ER, K-a strong contender for the award, but...
• Pineiro: 2IP, 2H, ER-...the new Gascan, ladies & gentleman!
• Okajima: 1IP, H, ER, 2BB-all'd first run since opening day in Gm2
• Papelbon: 1IP, 2BB, 2K-two walks in Gm2 were 1/3 his season total
• Delcarmen: 1IP, 0H, 0R-nice 2007 debut from MattapanManny
• Romero: 1IP, 0H, 3BBs-worked his way into-and out of-a Gm1 jam
• Lopez: 1IP, oH, 2K-solid relief of Tavarez in Gm2

Season Series: Sox lead, 6-3

Was it pretty? Hell no.

Was it devastating?

Not even close.

Was it a little disappointing?

Affirmative on that one.

But losing 2 of 3 to the desperate Stankees in late May is basically meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Especially when New York was throwing its three best hurlers while Boston countered with starters 4,5 and a shaky Schill as #2.

Sure New York salvaged some dignity by winning for the third time in the last six meetings between the two after Boston swept the first three games of the season series, but where did that leave them? They're still a 10-game winning streak from getting back in the race, their DH is under fire and meeting with the commish for making stupid comments and a possible drug violation, the aces of their pitching staff are older than the cast of Cocoon and their so-called savior, Roger Clemens, is having a tough time getting minor leaguers out.

So, as we stand of the precipice of another month coming off the baseball calendar before these two teams meet again, the state of Red Sox Nation looks pretty damn good. Josh Beckett is recovering nicely from his finger boo-boo and should be ready to pitch next week, the offense is clicking despite a few slipping cogs, and old friend Trot Nixon is coming to town for a Memorial Day meeting with the Indians.

Plus there's that 9 1/2 game lead thing to help every member of the Nation feel all warm and fuzzy heading into this holiday weekend.

Enjoy this moral victory until June 1st, Feeble Empire!