Sweep!

I have full confidence in both Okajima and Donnelly. Both are acceptable set up men. I know it took a heck of a play tonight by Pedroia, and I know the two let an inherited runner score. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't have to look pretty against the Yankees. You just gotta get the job done.

It wasn't pretty. The Red Sox starting rotation was pretty bad. I mean, they ate up a lot of innings, but also gave up a lot of runs. But seriously, against the Yankees, it doesn't matter how good it looks. Both Beckett and Matsuzaka were lifted in the middle of late innings...I think both in the 8th. Beckett might've been in the 7th. Both had allowed 5 runs at the time (the inherited runner the Donnelly let score in relief of Okajima was also charged to Diasuke, giving him 6 earned...). But the Fenway Faithful soluted them with standing ovations. Diasuke tipped his hat just to be polite. Beckett looked pretty mad. You could tell both didn't think they deserved the ovation, and both didn't think they pitched well. But in Boston, which does have a bit of an inferiority complex, it doesn't matter how bad you are, as long as you're better than New York.

Offensively, the Sox hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back homeruns for the first time in team history. Manny Rameriz, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek. All of them came off the Yankees' rookie starter Chase Wright. The Yankee bullpen was so battered from the first two games they stuck with Wright who got Wily Mo Pena to strike out to end the inning.

Jeter tied the game at four with a homer, and the Yankees tacked on another on a double play that scored a run. Mike Lowell countered with another homer-this one scored three- to win the game.

In the eight, the Yankees threated to tie the game. They had already plated one and had first and third or something like that. Donnelly was in facing pinch hitter Josh Phelps. Phelps hit a line drive that was falling fast behind second base on the right field side. Dustin Pedroia came out of no where and made an awesome diving catch to preserve the lead.

So, good news- Red Sox take 3 of 3 from Yankees. Bad news- Yankees with Petite and two no named rookie starters more or less match Sox big three of Schilling, Beckett, and Matsuzaka. Good news- Sox bullpen was phenominal and Jason Varitek broke out of his year and a half long slump. Bad news-Yankees pitchers are coming back for next weeks series at Yankee Stadium...and Matsui might be back.

UPDATE: I wanted to put this earlier but forgot. Papelbon was dominate again, obviously. But anyway, before every pitch, went he steps on the rubber, he looks down at the ground. He slowly looks up, and gazes in at the hitter in an extremely intimidating manner. The look basically says "I'm kind of annoyed we have to go through this formality of me blowing you away when we both know its gonna happen anyway. You're kind of pissing me off right now, and I throw 97-99 mph. It's not a wise decision to annoy me." ESPN kept showing it up close, every time. During Abreu's at bat, I let out a laugh after seeing the look. It was an extremely evil laugh. A laugh that complimented the look nicely. I think Varitek should laugh in such an evil manner every time Papelbon does the look. Rivera is more established and when it's all said and done, maybe he'll have a better carreer than Papelbon. But he doesn't have the look.