Lowell, Sox bitchslap Stanks in wild win

Sox 11, New York 6
WP: Okajima (1-0)
LP: Proctor (0-3)
HRs: BOS- Lowell (11), Tek (6); NYY- Cabrera (3), Posada (7), Jeter (4)

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox "survived" more than won this wild installment of the Rivalry at Fenway.

Boston overcame three separate deficits and three New York homeruns, then rode a five-run seventh to another come-from-behind win, with a little help from Derek Jeter's glove and Mike Lowell's bat (and balls).

HERO: Lowell 3-4, 2R, 4RBI, 2B, HR
The stats don't even take into account the terrific "anything you can do we can do better" body slam of Robinson Cano in the 4th, or the headknocking he gave Ball Stealer while running through the bag at first in the 7th, a play that allowed the eventual game-winning run to score. Oh, and he made a great barehanded play as well.

There's a reason my mom keeps telling me that he's her favorite player, and I guess it's not just because he resembles a Puerto Rican cross between Clark Gable & George Clooney.

GOAT: Jeter 2-5, R, RBI, 2B, HR, 2E
How can a guy who hit a double and a homer, scored a run and knocked in the go-ahead run in the top of the 7th be the goat?

Easy, because his back-to-back errors in the bottom of the 7th opened the floodgates on the Boston comeback that put the game away, not to mention gave the Nation years of fodder for the anti-Jeter cannon.

RECAP:
I think I'll just skip this part.

Seriously, for a guy who had no formal writing training (save for a semester of creative writing at UMass-Boston-baah!) and whose brain gets scrambled when the questions come too fast on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?", trying to recap this extra-long, extra-crazy edition of the Rivalry could cause serious damage to what few brain cells I have left.

I mean you'd have to be a PhD of Baseballology to follow all the twists & turns, balls & strikes, takedowns & knockouts involved in this one.

As I did with yesterday's frightfest, I'll have to resort to showing some numbers to begin to unravel the mystery of what the hell went on at Fenway today.

3 1/2 hours, plus a 30 minute rain delay. 10 pitchers. 304 pitches. 17 runs. 26 hits. 11 walks. 6 doubles. 5 homeruns. 2 players taken out by Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. 1 hitting streak ended (Youk), 1 extended (Pedroia)...

...and 2 HUGE errors by the Captain of the sinking Stankees ship.

Sure, I just used the same tired trick I used in yesterday's post, so what? I'm running out of ways to explain these fucking things!

But I guess I'd better try before this post turns into a 1600-word opus.

The day started innocently enough, with breezy blue skies and a fairly uneventful first inning. Curt Schilling (5IP, 9H, 4ER, 1BB, 2Ks, 2HRs) worked around a 1-out double by Jeter by fanning A-Rod to end the frame; the Sox quickly got two men on in the bottom half, but the rally was snuffed by a Manny (1-3, 2R) DP.

The first run of the game came when Melky Cabrera, starting in center for Judas Demon, wrapped a Schilling fastball around Pesky's Pole for a 1-0 New York lead. But Boston answered right back, first tying the game on an RBI groundout (again) by Lugo in the bottom of the 3rd, then taking a two-run lead after loading the bases with no outs in the rain-delayed 4th inning.

When the showers came through Boston had Papi (2-4, 2R) on third and Manny, who doubled, on second with no one out. A half hour later the tarp came off and play resumed, and Mike Mussina (5IP, 9H, 5ER, 4BBs, 1K, 2HRs) immediately walked Kevin Youkilis to load the bases.

Lowell ripped a single to left to score Papi with the go-ahead run, and although the Sox would tack on another run on a double-play grounder by Tek, it was yet another possible big inning wasted by the Sox, leaving the door wide open for the adventures to follow.

After Boston wasted another bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the 5th, New York quickly took the lead back in the 6th when Schilling gave up a single to Matsui, a walk to A-Rod, and then a 3-run bomb to Jorgie Posada that cleared the bullpens in right and gave the Stanks a 4-3 lead.

That blast got Schill out of the game, but things didn't get better as Javier Lopez came in and served up a double to Cabrera (3-4, 2R, RBI) and an RBI single to Ball Stealer that pushed New York's lead to 5-3 and had the Faithful huffing & puffing in their still-drying seats.

Little did everyone know that the best was yet to come.

But they would soon find out when Lowell and Tek went back-to-back to start the 6th, with Mike's shot finding the Monster seats, making the score 5-4, and the Captain's rocketing out to the blacked out seats in straightaway center, a drive that awed the crowd, tied the score, and chased Mussina from the game.

Now the fun had really begun.

Lopez began the 7th by fanning Bobby Abreu, but then Tito brought in Pineiro to face Jeter; bad move, as Jeter deposited a 3-2 offering from Pineiro into the Monster seats, bringing a cascade of boos down from the frustrated fans and giving New York its third lead of the game, 7-6.

Fortunately for RSN, it would also be thier last.

Because the seventh was an inning that appeared to be crafted from the mind of New England's favorite horror-loving son, Steven King himself; in fact, maybe that should be the title of his next Red Sox-related novel: it all went down in...The Seventh Inning...

With Public Enemy #2, Scott Proctor, on the hill, Ortiz got the party started with a shot to the right field corner that at first looked like it was going out, then looked like it would be caught by Abreu until he badly misplayed it and the ball fell next to him for a 2-base hit. Manny was then intentionally walked to set up the DP, except Proctor unintentionally walked his pal Youk to load the bases for Boston-again.

Cue the creepy music, please.

Lowell stepped in and you knew the way his day was going he was going to do some damage in this situation; what we didn't realize was that the damage would be to his buddy Mientkiewicz' head. He chopped Proctor's 2-1 pitch to second, and Cano flipped to Jeter, who came across the bag to get Youk out there, but then he spun around and threw wildly to first.

Mientkiewicz tried to scoop the bad hop throw but couldn't, and his head went back and collidied with Lowell's sizable thigh just as he crossed the bag, jarring the ball, and some of Dougie's brain matter, loose.

By the time the dust had settled Papi and Manny had scampered home with runs # 6 & 7, Lowell ended up at second base, the Ball Stealer had to be carted off the field with a Grade 10 Excedrin headache, and the game was for all intents & purposes over.

To wrap up this epic saga, the Sox would go on to score three more times in the inning on a single by Coco, another RBI groundout by Lugo and Pedroia's third hit of the game, an RBI single that made the score 10-5 Boston. Just for shits & giggles, Lowell added another RBI on a double in the 8th, and Tito had Jonathan Papelbon come in and close out the day and ensure there would be no more comebacks.

There you have it, another typical installment of the Rivarly, and it only took me 722 words to describe it.

And I didn't even mention the winning pitcher once.

NOTES:

• Pedroia, batting second in the lineup, rapped three more hits to raise his aveargae to .333 and extend his hitting streak to 12 games
• Sadly, Youk's 23-gamer came to an end when he walked three times, grounded out and flied out; he was 0-2 with a run scored; ironically, he was the only player for Boston not to get a hit
• J.D. Drew missed the game with his hammy problem,as expected, and the possibility exists that he might go on the DL because of it. Wily Mo replaced him and went 1-5 with 2 runs and 3 Ks
• Schilling continues to alternate good outings with bad; earned runs allowed his last 5 starts: 4, 2, 5, 1, 4
• Okajima came on with two outs in the 7th, got Posada to fly out, tossed a 1-2-3 eigth to earn his first major league victory
• Lugo's two RBI gave him 33 on the year, while Lowell's quartet of ribs shot him to 45
• A-Rod went 0-2 with 2 walks and a run scored and was vociferously booed throughout the game
• Cabrera had 3 hits including a homer and a double and scored twice in place of Demon

QUOTES:

"That was like a football game." --Tito, as succinct as usual

"Our ballclub is in great spirits right now...we're fighting now. We haven't been through this in a while."--Torre, apparently drinking from a rose-colored glass

"It seemed like every time we scored, they scored some runs. And I didn't help them."--Jeter, a.k.a. Captain Obvious

"They taught me how to do it."--Lowell, referring to his four early seasons spent in the Stankees system. Best line of the year.

RECORD: 37-17

AL EAST: Up 11 on BAL

STRK: W-1

LST 10: 7-3

UP NEXT: Sun vs. NYY 8P ESPN HD

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Game preview: Stanks @ Sox GM2

Mussina (2-3, 5.50) vs, Schilling (5-2, 3.65)
Fenway Park 3:55P FOX HD

The aftermath of last night's ugly, rain-delayed, four hour fiasco will take place under sunny skies (hopefully) and this time with the Sox enforcer/stopper on the mound, Curt Schilling, instead of Stankees chew toy Tim Wakefield.

But you can be sure that both sides will be under strict umpire orders to keep the game clean after last night's contest in which five batters were hit by pitches, two Stankees were ejected (Torre & Scott Proctor), and Youk nearly burst a blood vessel after Proctor almost put a fastball through his face in the 9th inning.

Just another typical Red Sox/Stankees series, beside the fact that Boston, despite losing 3 of 4 to New York, still owns a commanding 12 game lead over the Feeble Empire the Sox are secure in the knowledge that they could lose all three games of this series and still own a double-digit lead over their hated foes.

Except any self-respecting member of RSN, not to mention the prideful Schilling, would want to let that scenario take place. Not only would a NY sweep give them an untold amount of confidence, it would actually make us have to worry about things for the last part of the season.

And with the way things have been going, why the hell would we want to do that.

So Schill needs to set things straight, and coming off his 10-strikeout gem against the Indians should give him enough confidence that he can still bring it.

We'll have to wait and see if the two teams bring any more head-hunting excitement to the table.

Go Sox!

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S.O.S.: Stanks spank Wake- again

New York 9, Sox 5
WP: Wang (4-4)
LP: Wakefield (5-6)
HRs: NYY-Cano (3)

SUMMARY:
The night started out bad-a half hour rain delay- and ended even worse, as Scott Proctor hit Kevin Youkilis and nearly ignited a 9th inning brawl, and the Sox lost to their arch rival for the 3rd time in the last 4 games.

HERO: Youk 1-3, R
He extended his hitting streak to 23 games with an infield single in the 6th, then opened up another vein of bad blood between the two teams when he nearly got hit in the face by Proctor's pitch in the 9th.

I can't wait to see how this spills over tomorrow

GOAT: Wake 3.2IP, 5H, 8ER, 6BBs, 2Ks, L
Not a goat, Pan's faun. As I stated the last time the Stanks beat Wake like an old rug, don't let this guy pitch against them anymore.

Much like the Sox with Mariano Rivera (see: Manny's RBI single tonight), New York just has him figured out now. Tito, you've got till August to make sure you align the rotation so he doesn't start against them again-ever.

RECAP:
You won't find this game earning "save:until I erase" status on anyone's DVR, that you can be sure of.

It was another hideous installment of the Rivalry, and not coincidentally, another one started by Tim Wakefield. But before I get started on Mr. Knuckler and his recent inability to retire anyone wearing pinstripes at any time, let's take a look at how ugly this game really was:

Four hours. 13 pitchers. 334 pitches. 21 batters. 25 hits. 5 hit-batters. 2 ejections. 2 errors. 1 wild pitch. 2 passed balls. 2 injured Sox.

It all equals up to 1 large loss.

In 10 starts over the last two seasons Wakefield now owns a 1-8 record with a 6.79 ERA against New York. This season alone he is 0-3 with a ginourmous 10.93 ERA, and he has allowed 17 runs and 17 walks in just 14 innings against them. Yikes.

Despite Wake's woes, Boston actually had a chance to win this game early on, many actually, but as has been the case lately they let too many scoring chances slip away, and as usual, it came back to haunt them.

After spotting the Stanks a 3-run lead after two, thanks to a 2-run homer by Robinson Cano and four walks, including a based-loaded number to Judas Demon (0-3, RBI), Boston got right back in it and tied the score, although they let many more potential runs go by the wayside.

The Sox left the bases loaded in the first and second innings and left two men on in the third, yet only came away with three runs against Chien Ming Wang (5.2IP, 10H, 3ER, 2BB, K), who was pitching like he was trying to lose, only Boston wouldn't let him.

They got two back in the 2nd on an RBI groundout by Lugo and an RBI single from Papi, then tied the game in the 3rd when Dustin Pedroia (3-4, R, RBI) doubled in Coco Crisp, who had reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and moved to third on a single by Doug Mirabelli.

But this being the Stanks against Wakefield, well let's just say things got a little out of hand in the 4th. That's when New York batted around and scored six runs on a mixture of hits (3), walks (2), passed balls (2), wild pitches (1) and hit batters (2) that got Wake out of the game and with the score now 9-3 pretty much rendered the chances of a comeback moot.

Things stayed that way until the eventful bottom of the 9th, when the Stanks used four pitchers, Boston tacked two runs on against the bully to make the score respectable, and Proctor tried to behead Youkilis .

When Youk went postal after Proctor buzzed his bald dome, it set an interesting tone for how the Sox will come out tomorrow and answer this two-game losing streak.

At least we can take comfort in the fact that Wakefield won't be on the mound.

Because what the Stanks have done to him recently is called ownership, folks, and right now New York has the pink slip to the knuckleballer's rig.

NOTES:

• Hot 'n Dusty: Pedroia racked three more knocks including a pair of doubles, and he's now riding an 11-game hitting streak and has raised his average all the way to .323
• Mike Lowell & J.D. Drew both left the game with injuries; Lowell (0-1) was hit by a pitch in the hand in the 3rd and left an inning later, and Drew (0-3) injured his hammy and left after the 5th
• Joe Torre was ejected for arguing during a pitching change in the 5th; he felt Bobby Abreu was safe on a play in which he was called out at third base; replays showed he was safe
• Manny & Papi, oh my: the Dynamic Duo had a big night, going 7-9 with 1 run and 2 ribbies, but where's the run production, men?
• A-Hole: Fenway fans wore blond girl masks to mock A-Rod stripper transgression and shouted every time he had a pop up. They were thrilled when Manny gunned him out at second trying to stretch a double, but he had the last laugh, reaching base three times, scoring a pair of runs, and gunning a run down at the plate with the score tied
• AL batting average leader Jorgie Posada went 2-4 with two doubles, including a soul-killing 3-run jobber, and is now batting .358
• Mariano Rivera gave up 2 runs (none his) in his brief 9th inning appearance
• Ouch!: Five batters were hit-Lowell, Youk, Phelps, A-Rod & Cano--and incredibly Jeter wasn't one of them
• Mirabelli's single snapped a 1-21 skid
• Drew's & Lowell's replacements, Hinske & Wily Mo, went 0-5; Hinske took over at first while Youk moved across the diamond to third
• Lousy leadoff: Julio Lugo went 0-5 but did notch his 31st RBI

QUOTES:

"I think we showed fight tonight. We need to assert ourselves... just get that determination back."--Torre, revealing that his ejection was obviously a motivational ploy

"The fans thought about what they were going to do all day instead of enjoying the beautiful weather." --Judas Demon on the A-Rod attack. Do us all a favor, shut the fuck up Captain Cementhead

"We should start making a list of all the calls they've missed."--Susan Waldman after the Abreu play. Do us all a favor, shut the fuck up, Princess Pissbag

RECORD: 36-17

AL EAST: Up 10 on BAL
UP NEXT: Sat, 3:55PM FOX HD

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Another freaking rain delay

This is getting ridiculous.

I know it's raining in Florida for the first time since the Final 4, but I was under the impression that the weather was spectacular in new England these last few days...

...what's that, the sun has already come out and the game will be played after about a 1/2 hour delay?

Oh right, the whole 'wait a minute, it'll change' thing.

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Series preview: Stanks @ Sox

"Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down..."

New York Stankees (22-29)
AL EAST: 13.5 GB (t-4th)
STRK: W-1 LST 10: 4-6
AVG: .272 (7th) ERA: 4.62 (10th)
HRs: 55 (7th)

Last meeting: NY won, 2-1
Season series: BOS up, 6-3

KEY PLAYERS:

• A-Rod (.292.19/45)--after torrid first month, Mr. April has come down to Earth thanks to a horrid May (.235/5/11); perhaps it was the strip clubs...?
• Jeter (.343/32R/28RBI)--the Stankee captain has done it all: his avg. ranks 5th in the AL, he's hit in 21 of his last 24 games, his .421 OBP is 6th in the league and he's 2nd in hits (70)
• Posada (.357/6/30)--somehow Georgie has found his way to the top of the AL in batting average; no better time than now to knock that dickweed off his perch
• Judas Demon (.264/3/17)--hit his first leadoff homer of the season the other night in Toronto, but is in a 3-17 funk, and the banged-up former caveman continues to be a big-dollar bust (tee hee!)
• Hideki Matsui (.282/5/25)--batted .301 in May after a tough April (.207) and has hit in 10 of his last 12 games with 3 doubles, 3 homers and 7 RBIs; still not near the production the Stanks need from him

Pitching Matchups:
GM1 Fri 7P Wang (3-4, 4.13) vs. Wakefield (5-5, 3.36)
GM2 Sat 3:55 Mussina (2-3, 5.86) vs. Schilling (5-2, 3.68)
GM3 Sun 8P Pettitte (3-4, 2.51) vs. Beckett (8-0, 2.65)

What, is it that time again already? Time for another meeting between the bitter old rivals, the beloved BoSox and the hated Stankees, baseball's two most storied franchises, sqauring off for the umpteenth time, yadda yadda yadda...

Let's face it, with Boston kicking more ass than Jason Bourne and the Stanks looking like the cast from The Sandlot 3: the Dysfunctional Years, it really has taken some of the luster off the Rivalry, at least in the public's (i.e. ESPN's) eyes.

But here in the Nation, a series against the Stanks means something whether Boston's up 13 games or down 13 games...okay, that's a lie, 'cause after the Boston Massacre II last September, the remaining series against them was meaningless.

I guess what I'm trying to say is when the Sox have a 13 1/2 game lead over the team that has kicked sand in its face for decades (save for 2004), a series like this means even more than one in which the two teams are even in the standings. This is Boston's chance to absolutely bury its enemy as far as the division race goes, and a sweep would almost certainly sound the death knell for playoff hopes in the Bronx, at least in the critic's eyes.

A lot has happened since the last time these two teams met just 10 days ago: Boston has gained 4 games in the standings on New York, and the Stanks have had another rash of bad play, bad press and bad luck.

Just in the last four days a picture was splashed across the back of the Post of A-rod walking into a strip club with a stripper. By all accounts the woman escorted Rodriguez up to his Toronto hotel room, where they presumably talked about what Derek Jeter was like.

If that wasn't bad enough, the next day in a game against the Jays, old blue lips incensed the Toronto players & coaches and once again pissed off baseball "purists" when he yelled "mine" while rounding third base, causing the Jays shortstop to let a pop up drop in front of him.

That A-Rod, classy all the way.

If that's not bad enough, Jason Giambi had to go on the DL with a foot problem, presumably from inserting it in his mouth too much, and New York announced that Roger Clemens won't make his 2007 debut in Boston this weekend, but rather away from the glare in Chicago on Monday.

What a friggin pussy!

It's just as well. The NY brass doesn't want to look like total fools if the Sox were to hammer the Rocket like chop meat, booing him off the field once again and laying waste to any pipe dreams the Stanks might have of catching Boston in the standings with the addition of the $21 million dollar mercenary.

The Sox will have to be content with beating the Stanks sans Roger, and with the pitching matchups much more favorable for this series than last (other than Wake facing New York again-gulp!), a sweep is entirely in the realm of possibility.

Well, at least for Boston it is.

Down with the Feeble Empire!
Sweep the Stanks!

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Monthly Recap: May

With the off day, the end of another month, and the start of another Sox/Stanks series set to get underway tonight at Fenway, I realized now would be a great time to give a State of the Sox update.

Olus it's raining here in FLA for the first time in nearly a month, so...

Record for May: 20-8 (36-16)
Lead in AL East: +6 1/2 (+10)
Series record: 7-1-1, 2 sweeps (13-3-2, 5)
AVG: .277 (3rd)
ERA: 3.71 (2nd)
HRs: 56 (6th)
RUNS: 280 (3rd)
WALKS: 222 (1st)

Batters Box: *season tots. in ()

• Kevin Youkilis (.354/8/30/.427OBP)-- batted .402 (45-112) with 13 doubles, 6 homers and 22 RBIs in 26 games and has had at least one hit in every game since May 10th; is currently 3rd in AL in batting, and oh, there was that little inside-the-park thingy
• David Ortiz (.315/9/38)-- Papi hit a productive .333 in may but his power numbers were WAY down- just 2 homers and 16 RBIs- although he did smack 12 doubles; currently 10th in AL in ribbies; hammy woes, or something more?
• Mike Lowell (.330/10/41)-- he and Youk formed the 1-2 power punch in May as Lowell hit a scalding .343 with 6 homers and 21 ribbs; his 11 RBIs in last 12 games vaulted him to 7th in the league
• Dustin Pedroia (.308/17R/11BI)-- Boston's hottest hitter in the month, Dusty batted a Williams-esque .415 to raise his avg. 136 points; ended the month on a 10-game hitting streak (15-33, .455) and belted 6 doubles with a .472 OBP and .600 SLG% in May-whew!
• Manny Ramirez (.269/8/31)-- ManRam came on late in May (he started the month batting .2o2) and ripped the ball in 8 of the last 9 games: 13-34, 5 doubles, triple, 2 homers & 6 ribbies; hit .327 with 5 homers and 18 RBIs for month
• Jason Varitek (.277/5/26)-- the Captain came on strong late in May, batting .296 in the last 10 games with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 homers and 10 RBIs; finished May batting .311 with 3 homers and 17 ribbies
• J.D. Drew (.226/2/17)-- Drew batted an anemic .171 (13-76) for the month with no homers & 9 RBIs, dropping his avg. 107 pts; adding injury to insult, he busted his back on the Fenway bullpen wall & had a ball hit off his face -ouch, babe! (10th in AL in walks)
• Coco Crisp (.229/27R/15BB/10SB)-- although his avg. barely strayed from where he ended April (.235), Coco contributed in may ways this month, namely with terrific defense in center, four bunt hits, 12 walks and 7 thefts; only hit .224, though
• Julio Lugo (.230/27R/30RBI/15SB)--Lugo is harder to figure out than a Rubik's cube. He hit .209 in May with a horrendous (esp. for a leadoff hitter) .241OBP, but mashed 21 ribbies and stole 7 bases, rising to 4th in AL; he's NOT a leadoff hitter
• Alex Cora (.316/9R/13RBI)-- after a sizzling April, Cora came back to Earth in May, but part of that was due to how hot Pedroia got. Alex played in only 17 games in May and just 2 of the last 8; still, he batted a very respectable .294 in limited duty
• Doug Mirabelli (.190/2/4)-- talk about freefallin'; Doug dropped 163 points in May with a putrid 2-25 showing in 7 games; he did catch back-to-back games for the first time, but his hot April (.353) turned into a morbid May
• Wily Mo Pena (.237/3/6)-- oh, Wily Mo, will we ever see what you can be, or is this all you got? Although he batted .300 in May (9-30), he had almost as many Ks (8) as hits and he played defense like Willie McGinest-brutally. Now fanned 23 times in 59 ABs-yikes!
• Eric Hinske (.173/1/5)--batted just .114 in 12 games, but his four hits included 2 doubles and a homer; okay, so he whiffed 11 times too, but it's tough to judge him because of limited PT

Pitcher's Box:

• Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-3, 4.83)-- started May 4-0, then shit the bed Wed. against CLE; still, tied-2nd in wins, he got 8 1/2 runs per game but allowed 44 hits and 23 ERs in 39.2 innings for an ERA of 5.22
• Curt Schilling (5-2, 3.68)-- Schill had a solid win against the Twins, his worst loss of the year against the Stanks, followed by his best outing (7IP, 6H, 1R, 0BB, 10Ks) on Mon. vs the Tribe for a 2-1/4.03 month
• Tim Wakefield (5-5, 3.36)-- went 3-2 with a 4.09 ERA in May after leading the league in ERA for a portion of April; had a couple of stinkers against NY & DET, but he shut down MIN & TOR to start month; 13th in ERA, 10th in wins
• Julian Tavarez (3-4, 5.40)-- Julie had a nice month in the 5-hole, posting a 2-2 record with a 3.99 ERA, bringing his mark down from 7.58; he'll probably head back to the pen if Lester debuts in June as expected
• Josh Beckett (8-0, 2.65)-- although he spent 15 days on the DL , he still went 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA. currently 1st in AL in wins, 2nd in WHIP (0.97), 2nd in Win% and 5th in ERA; fingers crossed that avulsion stays away in June
• Jon Papelbon (13SV, 1.86)-- faltered a bit in May (5-6 in saves, 3.60 ERA), but when you're near-perfect in April (8-8, 0.00), there's nowhere to go but down; has all'd only 12 hits & 4 runs with 28 Ks in 19IP, and he is ranked 5th in the AL in saves
• Hideki Okajima (4SV, 10H, 1.08)-- like Paps he had a little bit of a tough May-he actually allowed a run, breaking a 20.2IP scoreless streak-but his numbers, versatility, and devastating Oki-Doke make him the staff's surprise star; 10th in AL in holds
• Kyle Snyder (1-0, 1.53)-- who would thunk the former KC castoff would become the pen's most valuable middle reliever? Dropped his ERA from 2.84 in April, and lefties are batting a microscopic .038 against him-awesome
• Brendan Donnelly (2-1, 3.71)-- he and Romero are the Forrest Gumps of the pen; ERA ballooned from 0.00 in April and batters hitting .344 off him @ Fenway, but he does have 2 wins & 7 holds...
• Javier Lopez (1-0, 3.38)-- had a rough outing against ATL on the 19th (3ER in 1IP) that jumped his ERA from 0.00 to 3.68, but he has become a one-batter specialist, especially against lefties, who are hitting .182 against him; also has 7 holds
• J.C. Romero (1-0, 1SV. 3.86)-- see Donnelly; all'd 3 ERs in last 2 apps. shooting his ERA from 2.35 to 3.86; has given up 13 walks against just 9 Ks in 16.1IP-not good.
• Joel Pineiro (1-0, 5.14)-- has come on strong recently (1ER in last 4.2IP) to lower his ERA 92 pts; still, lefties batting an eye-popping .368 off him and he gets hammered at Fenway (.395)

Others: Mike Timlin made one app before going on the DL; Kason Gabbard (5IP, 6H, 2ER,BB, 7Ks, W) and Devern Hansack (4IP, 6H, 3ER, BB, 2Ks, 2HRs) both made starts in place of Beckett; and Manny Delcarmen (1IP, no stats) made a brief appearance with the big club

There you have it, a mixed May for many players that all totaled out to mean a 10-game lead over Baltimore for 2nd place in the AL East and a 13.5 bulge on the Stanks, who come to Fenway tonight.

Let's hope the Sox start June like they ended May-scorching hot and ready to drop-kick the Feeble Empire right out of the playoff picture for good.

Bring on the Stankees!

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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.

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Reason #497 why we love Youk

Despite a 22-game hitting streak, a .354 batting average, and the fact that the Sox enjoy a double-digit lead on its nearest division competitor, Youk was still furious that he struck out to end the game, taking his aggressions out on an unsuspecting piece of dugout furniture.

We love you, Youk!

Just don't injure yourself in a fit of rage over one loss!

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Tribe tramples Matsuzaka, ends Sox win streak

Cleveland 8, Sox 4
WP: Byrd (6-1)
LP: Matsuzaka (7-3)
HRs: BOS-Lowell (10); CLE- Sizemore (9), Shoppach (2)

SUMMARY
The Indians pulled the E-brake on the Red Sox express, belting out 18 hits and running Dice-K from the game with a 4-run 6th.

Paul Byrd shut down the Boston lineup, Matsuzaka lost his first game since mid-April, and J.D. Drew racked up another 0-4...

...but at least Youk extended his hitting streak to 22 games.

HERO: Byrd 6IP, 9H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, W
He wasn't spectacular-he rarely is-but Paul you old Byrd did something not many hurlers have been able to do lately: shut down the potent and usually patient Boston offense.

GOAT: Dice-K 5.2IP, 12H, 6ER, 0BB, 4Ks, HR, L
In his last two starts he has allowed 19 hits and 11 earned runs in 10.2 innings of work.

Somebody call Mr. Miyagi, please.

RECAP
What started out looking like another chapter for the 2007 Championship Season DVD turned into a major buzzkill for the Sox and its Nation as Cleveland came out with sticks swinging and gave Boston a taste of its own medicine in the form of a come-from-behind win.

More troubling than the loss itself, though, was the way Daisuke Matsuzaka got battered around like an origami swan in a tsunami. For the second straight outing he had one particularly bad inning that severely shifted the momentum of the game; last time the Boston batters were able to bail him out of that potential disaster, this time they could not.

Last week against the Rangers it was a sudden bout of stomach flu that caused Dice to give up the cycle +1 homer while allowing five runs in the 4th inning in Arlington. Tonight there were no convenient excuses as to why Cleveland was able to string together four consecutive hits and five total in the 6th off Dice-K, the big blow being a 2-run homer by Grady Sizemore (2-5, 3R, 2RBI) that bulged what started as a 2-2 tie to a 6-2 Tribe edge.

Okay, granted his record is a very respectable 7-3, but with tonight's debacle thrown in, Matsuzaka has now had four games where he has allowed five or more earned runs in his 11 starts, not so great for a $103 million dollar investment who has a veritable Tank Johnson-like arsenal of pitches and a supposed rubber arm.

But let me get off the Dice-K ragfest (I'll leave that to the Boston writers/EEI shows) and explain how the good times came to a emphatic finish tonight at Fenway.

The Sox hitters got Matsuzaka a quick lead when they brought a run across in the 2nd inning on an error by Josh Barfield that allowed Drew to reach, a double by Mike Lowell (2-4, R, 2BI) and an RBI ground out by Tek.

They would add a second run in the 4th, when birthday boy Manny Ramirez (1-3) led off the inning with a double to deep right, then moved to third on a wild pitch by Byrd. Drew grounded out (of course), but at least he got the RBI as Manny scooted home with run #2.

You knew it wouldn't last though because Dice was wriggling out of jams from the first inning on, when he loaded the bases before inducing an inning-ending DP by Trot (1-5, R). In the 5th all that dancing finally caught up with him when Cleveland tied the score on a single by Kelly Shoppach (4-5, 3R, RBI), a double by Sizemore, an RBI ground out by Casey Blake and an RBI double by Travis Hafner.

Before anyone could even get settled into the fact that it was a new game again the Tribe laid the beatdown on Dice in the 6th, and it was all over but the thwarted comeback.

Trot started the onslaught (of course) with a ground rule double into the stands in right. After Peralta flied out deep to Coco, Dave Delucci doubled to score Trot, then Barfield singled to score Deluccci and make the score 4-2 Cleveland.

Not content to let up there, Shoppach lined a single to left, and it didn't even matter that Manny picked Barfield off rounding second, because Sizemore then drilled a belt-high splitter over Drew's head and into the bullpen, sounding the death blow for the Boston winning streak.

Boston would have a great shot at getting back in the game in the bottom of the 7th, but when that platinum-plated opp fell by the wayside, you could tell it just wasn't meant to be.

The Sox loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Tek, Cora and Pedroia, chasing Byrd from the game, but Coco quickly fouled out to third, Youk fanned, and after nearly wrapping one around Pesky's Pole, Papi lined out to meekly end the threat.

J.C. Romero would make sure Lowell's 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th was meaningless when he came in and allowed two runs in the top of the inning, including a home run to Shoppach on the first pitch he threw.

And so the 5-game winning streak ended, as well as Youk's consecutive multi-hit game streak and Dice-K's streak of wins in his last six decisions.

As they say, all good things must come to an end.

As long as the Stankee's run of 10 straight division titles falls as well.

NOTES:

• Papi returned after a three game hiatus and went 1-4 with single, but still appears hampered by his myriad of minor ailments
• The Sox did manage 10 hits themselves, 2 each by Lowell, Tek & Pedroia, but the team that leads the league in walks on drew only one base-on-balls beacuse...
• ...Byrd has not allowed a walk in 43 innings spanning six games
• Ramirez celebrated his 35th birthday by getting his 10th double and has now had a hit in 8 of the last 9 games
• Sizemore does matter: after beginning the series 0-9 with 6 Ks, Grady went on a rampage, reaching on a double, homer and walk before grounding out in the 8th
• Former Sox property Shoppach also went ballistic, ripping off half as many hits and the same number of runs tonight as he'd had all month
• Pedroia's pair of hits extended his streak to 10 consecutive games and his aveage climbed to .308
• Drew had a bead on Sizemore's homer, but appeared to ease up when he got near the low bully wall where he cracked his spine earlier this season
• No relief: for once the Sox pen was shaky, too; three relievers (Snyder, Romero & Pineiro) combined to allow 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs in 3 1/3
• Lugo got the night off; Coco was 0-4 in his leadoff spot, although he did have a sac bunt and another nice diving catch (not quite a CoCoCatch, though)
• Lowell took over the team lead with his 10 homer; Papi, who has 9, hasn't homered in 16 games & 56 ABs, longest drought of his career
• Matsuzaka threw 106 pitches and his ERA rose to 4.83 (okay, I'm done with him!)

QUOTES:

"Not only my fastball, but, overall, I think I had problems with my control."--Dice-K; how do you say 'Captain Obvious' in Japanese?

"We knew coming in he is not going to walk anybody. You have to hit
him to beat him."--Tito on Byrd

"I take a lot of pride in making them earn their way to first base."--Byrd

RECORD: 36-16

AL EAST: Up 11 gms on BAL

UP NEXT: Thu-off; Fri vs. NYY 7P

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Game Preview: Cleveland @ Sox GM3

Byrd (5-1, 3.81) vs. Matsuzaka (7-2, 4.43)
7P Fenway Park ESPN HD

The Sox will try for a second consecutive series sweep tonight when red-hot Dice-K takes the mound opposite Cleveland journeyman Paul Byrd.

Byrd has won three consecutive starts and has stepped up big to fill the void created when Jake Westbrook went on the DL May 7th. If the Indians wanted one man on the mound to try and get one game here, Byrd would be...their second choice, behind C.C. Sabathia.

But since Boston will miss the 7-1 Cleveland ace they will have to solve the softballs of the crafty vet Byrd.

Dice-K will be shooting for his 7th straight win, although many of those victories have been, let's say, fortunate. As in, he's fortunate that he is second in the majors in run support/9 innings (8.46), behind teammate Josh Beckett.

Last time out, Friday in Texas, Matsuzaka was cruising through the first four innings before a stomach virus and the Rangers hitters caught up to him for a 5-run 5th inning; Boston would put double digits on the board in a 10-6 victory and Dice won his 7th game of the year.

Papi should be back in the lineup after a three game absence and with Dice on the mound, an enthusiastic crowd and feeling that the team is invincible right now, there's no reason the Sox can't head into the Stankee series with a six game winning streak and monstrous division lead.

Well, the've already got the latter taken care of.

Sweep Sox Sweep!

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Smokin' hot Youk, Sox smack Tribe again

Sox 4, Cleveland 2
WP: Beckett (8-0)
LP: Sowers (1-5)
SV: Okajima (4)
HRs: BOS- Youk (8), Tek (5)

SUMMARY:
Josh Beckett made his return from the DL a successful one, tossing 7 solid innings allowing just three hits and two runs while fanning seven, and Kevin Youkilis extended two hitting streaks with a homer and a double and the good just times keep on rollin' for the Sox, who have now won five in a row.

HERO: Youk 2-4, 1R, 2RBI, 2B, HR
21-game hitting streak, 9 consecutive multi-hit games, .358 batting average...I know Beckett had a great game coming off the DL, but until this guy either stops getting hits or at least pares it down to a single hit per game, he's getting this award from here on out.

GOAT: Grady Sizemore 0-4, 3Ks
Cleveland's leadoff hitter is the spark that lights their offense, so when he whiffed his first three times up and then grounded out with two men on in a 2-run game to end the 8th, well there's not much of a spark to light a flame now is there?

RECAP:
Like I said the other night regarding the exploits of Kevin Youkilis, I'm quickly running out of superlatives to describe the incredible goings on surrounding our beloved Boston ballclub.

All right, now I'm so fucked up I'm writing in putrid prose.

But as the wins pile up and quality teams get discarded like Paris Hilton boytoys, the analytical blogger in me wants to say "why so surprised, you called it yourself, dumbass?", and after looking at the lineup and rotation this club was going to have, plus Paps at the back end, who in the Nation didn't?

Only analysis and explanations start to go out the window when a team starts playing baseball like this, stringing together magical moments and memorable wins like so many sweet rings on a candy necklace, and the unique feelings associated with a team, no, a Boston team, playing head & shoulders above the competition can bring normally critical, analytical people to the brink of babbling bliss.

I will stop now and try to analyze the events of tonight's ballgame, minus the pathetic poetry.

Becks came straight off the DL and picked right up where he left off: he fanned the first batter he had faced since May 13th, then after giving up a single to Jhonny Peralta (3-4, BB), got to Travis Hafner to fly out to Coco, who then alertly fired back to first to catch a napping Peralta, who took off for second base, for an unconventional inning-ending double play.

As has been the case all year when Beckett pitches, the Sox wasted no time getting him a lead to work with (one big reason he is undefeated is he has been the beneficiary of mega run support, as in 8 1/2 runs per start, tops in the majors), putting a run on the board in the bottom of the first. And wouldn't you know, the man to put his team ahead is the one who has been driving this runaway train for the past month, Kevin Youkilis.

Julio Lugo led off with a bunt single and Coco tried to duplicate him but ended up flying out to center. Youk then wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 21, taking the third pitch he saw from Jeremy Sowers and slashing into left for an RBI double, and just like that the crowd was in full throat, with the calls of "Yooooookkkkkk" showering down on Fenway with a little extra gusto in appreciation for all this man has been doing for this team the past few weeks.

The score would remain 1-0 til the 5th, with Beckett mowing down Indians (he set down 8 straight before walking nemesis Peralta in the 4th) and Sowers settling down to retire 9 straight Sox. The the Captain led off the fifth with a shot over the Monster that if you weren't paying attention you would have thought it was hit by Manny or Wily Mo.

By the time the ball landed across Lansdowne, Tek was being congratulated in the dugout, and the good times were indeed rolling at the ballpark again.

So you can imagine how festive the atmosphere got when Youk blasted a Sowers offering into the Monster seats for a leadoff homer in the 6th, his 8th of the season and second in two nights, although this one was the more conventional variety; that hit gave him at leat two knocks hits in nine straight games, a feat last accomplished by Magglio Ordonez in 2002.

Boston would chase Sowers (5.2IP, 6H, 4ER, BB, K, 2HRs) from the game after Lowell doubled, and reliever Fernando Cabrera walked three straight batters, including Dustin Pedroia with the bases loaded, to force in run #4.

With Beckett cruising it seemed like the four runs would be as good as his usual eight, but in the 7th, quicker than you can say "right back in it", Cleveland strung together a single by Peralta (!) a triple by Hafner that eluded Drew's lunge and rolled around the right field corner, and an RBI ground out by Victor Martinez to cut the lead in half.

That development-plus the fact that he had thrown 91 pitches already-brought Donnelly into the game to start the 8th, and he immediately hit Ryan Garko and after registering a couple of big outs gave up a single to pinch hitter Casey Blake. On came 1-man lefty specialist Javier Lopez, who induced Sizemore to ground out with just two pitches, and just like that the game was all but over.

Well, not before some 9th inning teeth-gnashing courtesy of Okajima. With Papelbon unavailable, Oki took over the closing duties and retired Peralta (finally) to lead off the 9th but walked Hafner after a couple of questionable calls. The Sox let him take second, but Oki bore down and got Martinez to strike out, then (fittingly) K'd Trot to end the game.

And so another chapter was written in the storybook-like season for the Sox. The team keeps getting better & better, finding ways to win despite or because of injuries, ineffective hitters, inconsistent pitching from certain starters (ahem,Schill), and individual accomplishments.

The Sox will head into the month of June with the best record in baseball, the biggest lead in any division, the best pitcher, hottest hitter, and most complete team the game has seen in a long time.

If that doesn't drive someone to write crappy & cliched cornball commentaries I don't know what will.

NOTES:

• In all the excitement I neglected to mention that Papi sat for the third straight game with a sore hammy/groin; he should return tomorrow
• After two solid games in a row, Drew went back to his usual 0-4, grounding out to the left side of the infield 3 of his 4 at bats. He also took a ball off the face on Peralta's 7th- inning single
• Manny (1-3) notched his 9th double and has now hit in 7 of the last 8 games (12-24, .545)
• Beckett became the first Sox starter to win his first 8 decisions since the Rocket (booo!) started 14-0 in 1986; the last Sox pitcher to win his first 8 decisions? None other than El Guapo, Rich Garces, in 2000.
• Pedroia's 5th inning single extended his hitting streak to 9 games (13-29, .448) and he has raised his average all the way up to .302; guess Tito knew what he was talking about
• The last Boston player to record multi-hit games in 9 consecutive outings? Jim Ed in 1978

QUOTES:

"We don't need Papi." --a joking Youk on the team's success (3-0) without him

"He looks like a guy who hadn't missed a game." --Eric Wedge on Beckett's performance

"They basically don't have a flaw in their lineup, so your margin of error is small."--Sowers; I told you this kid would be overwhelmed by the situation

RECORD: 36-15

AL EAST: Up 11.5 on BAL

UP NEXT: Wed vs. CLE 7P ESPN HD

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Game preview: Cleveland @ Sox GM2: Return of Josh

Sowers (1-4, 6.29) vs. Beckett (7-0, 2.66)
7P Fenway Park

Josh Beckett, the ace of the Sox staff and the winningest pitcher (percentage-wise) in the major leagues, returns to the mound tonight after a stint on the 15-day DL to resolve a recurring finger injury.

Whether you prefer to call it a torn flap of skin, blister or an avulsion, one thing is for sure regarding the high-strung 26-year-old righty, the middle digit of his pitching hand has become a major pain in the ass.

For the seventh time in his six plus major league seasons a similar problem to the same finger has landed Beckett on the DL. Sometimes when he returned he was fine and continued to pitch without incident that season. But other times-like in 2004 when he made 3 trips to the DL including one for 24 days-the nagging nature of the problem has caused him to miss considerable time.

All parties concerned have stated that this time the finger has healed very well and Beckett and the medical staff don't believe it will crop up again this season, said the sailor to the blind man...
All we can do is hold our breath and hope that Josh can continue his All-Star caliber season and lead the Sox to the postseason with all his digits intact.

To make room for Beckett, Manny Delcarmen was shipped back to the PawSox.

Opposing Beckett and attempting to ignore the tidal wave of emotion that will be coursing through the park tonight is Cleveland starter Jeremy Sowers. The 24-year-old in his second season with Cleveland has made 23 career starts and compiled an 8-8 record with a 4.53 ERA.

This season Sowers has been up (coming off a 7 inning, 1 run win over KC last Thurs) & down (three consecutive losses where he allowed at least 6 ERs), but the task at hand for him tonight could be too much for the young lefty to take.

Especially if Youk hits another inside-the-parker!

Look for the good times to keep rolling for Boston as the Sox get Beckett win #8.
MY PICK: SOX BIG! (arms & legs crossed on mini-Wally)

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Trot's return was the passing of the baton

The former Dirt Dog chats with his replacement before Monday's game (Globe/AP)

Was it just me or did anyone else notice the irony of Kevin Youkilis circling the bases for an inside-the-park homerun on the night that the last man to accomplish that rare feat in a Boston uniform, Trot Nixon, was making his return to Fenway Park?

And could it have been some karmic twist of fate that made Youk pump his arms like a sprinter running a 4x100 relay, hands reaching back as if he had just received the baton from his (former) teammate and was trying with all his might to bring the glory home?

To a believer of all things serendipitous, it was like time folded on top of itself last night, with the former fan favorite returning home to a rousing chorus of cheers, and the new emblem of the Boston Dirt Dog mentality doing something the original dirt dog himself had done just a couple of seasons ago.

Okay, I know I'm starting to make about as much sense as Carl Sagan on peyote (I think it's because I watched that convoluted piece of cosmic claptrap, Deja Vu, the other night), but what I'm trying to say is that something was in the air over Kenmore Square last night, and even living 1,500 miles away I could feel the ties that bind a fan to a franchise were strengthened by the events on the field and the efforts of those two men in particular.

During his 10 seasons in Boston, Nixon was the ultimate fan favorite because he exhibited hustle and passion for the game every time he took the field. Plays like inside the park home runs, all- out dives and crashing into walls for catches, brawling with opponents or knocking over a catcher to reach home plate, all embodied what baseball in Beantown is all about.

Trot became the symbol of baseball in Boston, and his exit at the end of last season coupled with the defection of Judas Demon & exodus of Kevin Millar the year before suddenly turned the cast of the original Dirt Dogs into the Departed.

Then along came Youk. If ever a guy was going be be the new face of the Dirt Dog Nation, it was the one with this mug:

It's a face on a mother could love, and even then with great trepidation. Add that to the barrel body and sweaty bald dome, an attitude on the field that rivals a pit bull's and a penchant for soaking up the night life, and it all adds up to the perfect hero for RSN, someone's who's not a pretty-boy metro with an entourage and PDA.

Now in his 4th season in Boston, his skills and aggressive nature had already made him a cult hero in the Nation, with calls of "Yoooooooook" cascading down from stadiums everywhere he went. But now his 20-game hit streak and blazing hot bat (8 straight consecutive multi-hit games, 4th-highest BA in AL) has elevated him to national star status.

Then came last night.

After extending his streak to 20 games with a hustle double in the fourth, delighting the sellout (duh!) crowd, he took a Roberto Hernandez (ahem ex-Ray) fastball and torched it off the bullpen wall in the triangle, then raced around the bases and into Boston baseball history.

With the last man to do that sitting in the opposite dugout, having enjoyed the adulation of the crowd at least four times already in the evening, Youk briefly stepped out of his dugout for a winded curtain call and let the appreciation of the Nation wash over him.

And a new Dirt Dog was born.

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Memorable Memorial Day propels Sox to 20 games over .500

Sox 5, Cleveland 3
WP: Schilling (5-2)
LP: Lee (2-2)
SV: Papelbon (13)
HRs: BOS-Manny (8), Youk (7)

Think Youk was pumped about his inside-the-parker?

RECAP:
On the day the country honored its fallen war heroes and the Sox honored the return of its prodigal Dirt Dog, Kevin Youkilis stole the show.

His 4th inning double extended his hitting streak to 20 games, but it was his inside-the-park home run in the 7th that electrified the crowd and provided one of the best highlights of the season.

Schilling bounced back with a terrific outing (7IP, 6H, 1R, 0BB, 10Ks), Boston is now 35-15 and enjoys it's largest ever division lead after 50 games. Nice.

HERO: Youk 2-5, 2R, RBI, 2B, HR
Forget the 20-game hit streak and the eight consecutive multi-hit games-did you see him fly around the bases on that inside-the-park homer?

The cult hero upgraded to legendary status tonight.

GOAT: Travis Hafner 0-5, 4Ks
The struggling slugger took home the rare & unwanted Golden Sombrero (4 Ks); as if that weren't bad enough, one of his whiffs came with two men on and two out to end the game. Yikes!
SUMMARY:
I thought we left all this zaniness behind in Texas?

For the 4th game in a row insanity ruled, awesome plays abounded, and I saw things I had never before seen on the baseball field.

But instead of magic mushrooms, triples by the catcher, and incredible diving catches, we were treated to the feel-good return of Trot Nixon, a near triple play executed by the Sox, an inside the park home run by one of the slowest players in the league, and a batter who was hit by a pitch get called out.

Yep it was another strange yet satisfying stop on the Magical Mystery Tour known as the 2007 Boston Red Sox, where one day Manny Ramirez is belly-flopping into third base and the next day Youk is doing a Michael Johnson impersonation around the base paths, carving an indelible image of arm pumping, leg churning fury that will forever be etched into the collective memory of Red Sox Nation.

Things started off interesting and got progressively entertaining from there. Curt Schilling was determined to rebound from his horrible outing in the Bronx last week, and when he struck out the side in the first, everyone knew he meant to do just that.

But business to a back seat to emotion when Trot Nixon came to the plate with one out in the second. As a thunderous applause roared from the stands and the eyes of most members of RSN got moist, Trot stepped into the box for the first time as an enemy, doffed his pine-tar laden helmet in a sign of appreciation, then promptly singled to right field off his old buddy Schill for the Indians' first hit.

Welcome back, Trotter.

Another harbinger of the hijinks to come happened in the top of the third, when Boston nearly pulled off another rare baseball feat. Cleveland put two men on with no outs thanks to a single and hit by pitch. Schilling got Casey Blake to ground sharply to third, and Lowell fielded the smash, stepped on third, spun and fired to second for the second out, but the relay from Pedroia was too late to get Blake at first to complete the play, but when a team almost turns a triple play, there's a sense that something special might be going on in the old ballyard.

By the end of four innings Schilling had allowed three hits, hit a batter, and struck out six, and you just knew if the offense could just get him a lead, he was going to bring this one home.

The Sox batters seemed to sense they needed to put some runs on the board to support Schill's effort, and in the bottom of the fourth, they did just that.

Youk started the charge (as he has been lately) with a double down the right field line that extended his hitting streak to 20 games. As the Fenway faithful roared with approval and anticipation, J.D. Drew continued his emergence from hitting Hades by lacing a double to center that easily scored "Wheels" Youkilis with the first run of the game.

When Mike Lowell followed with a double to left field, the Sox had hit for the deuce trifecta to take a 2-0 lead; although Boston had a chance to get more after Tek was hit by a pitch and Pedroia walked to load the bases, Lugo struck out swinging to end the rally at two runs.

Manny would up the ante to 3-0 with a guided missile into the Monster seats in the 5th, his 8th homer of the season, and with the way Schill was dealing it looked like the win was all but in the bag.

So when the Tribe finally touched Curt for a run in the 6th on an RBI single by Victor Martinez, it barely fazed anyone in the house. And by the time Youk blasted a drive high off the triangle that took a Fenway ricochet into center field and he motored around the bases like Borat on speed to push the lead to 4-1, everyone in the Nation had to be thinking this one was all but over.

Oh, BTW, the last guy to hit an inside the parker for the Sox? You guessed it, Trot in 2005.

Schilling was done after seven, but J.C. Romero came in and immediately surrendered back-to-back walks to liven things up. The combination of Lopez and Donnelly got out of the jam only allowing one run (a sac fly by who else-Trotman), and when Boston got the run back again on back-to-back doubles by Pedroia (3-3, 2-2Bs) and Lugo to make it 5-2 heading into the 9th, the MC was cuing up "Dirty Water".

But a funny thing happened on the way to closing the game out in a matter of minutes: Papelbon once again looked mortal, surrendering a walk, single and double to allow the 3rd run to score and send the celebrating masses back to their seats/sets.

Things really appeared dire when Paps hit Blake on the hand with a 2-2 fastball to apparently load the bases with one out, but in this season of love & karma, even that unfortunate occurrance turned in Boston's favor. Tito ran out and protested the play, and after the umps conferred, they ruled that since the hit occurred while Blake was in the act of swinging, the call was strike three and the batter was out.

Hmmm...okay, cool!

Before anyone knew what happened Papelbon struck out Hafner with a wicked heater and an emotional day & game came to an emotional and fiery conclusion.

So Trot returned to a grand hurrah, but so did the dominant Curt Schilling, and on one of the most memorable days in American history the Sox played a most memorable game.

We were treated to a rare homer, a near-triple play, saw a favoirite son return and gained anothr game in the standings with ace Josh Beckett headed back to the mound tomorrow.

Does it get any sweeter than that?

NOTES:

• Youk has raised his average from .286 to .354 during the streak
• Papi (hammy, flu) sat for the second straight game
• Pedroia continues to excel; his three hits raised his average to a sizzling .298
• Lugo had two hits and an RBI to break a 2-23 skid
• Manny's homer was career #478, good for 25th on the all-time list
• Drew continued his resurgence with another clutch RBI hit and a pair of walks
• Only human: in his last 5 outings/innings, Paps has allowed 6 hits and 2 runs while fanning 9

QUOTES:

"We're good." --Schill. 'Nuff said.

"It would have saved me a lot of time and effort." --Youk, responding to if he wished his homer had gone over the wall instead of off of it

RECORD: 35-15

AL EAST: Up 11.5 gms on BAL
(**NYY are 13.5 gms back, in last place**)
UP NEXT: Tue vs. CLE 7P

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