The Yankees sweep the Red Sox
August 30, 2007
...
With the two pitches from Joba Chamberlain perhaps still echoing in
Kevin Youkilis's ear, Yankee Stadium emptied its fill of 55,067
seemingly satisfied fans. Not only had they seen their nascent phenom
lob two in the general direction of Youkilis's head, whether by
accident or on purpose, they had also seen their team take three
straight, sweeping the Red Sox to bring the gap in the American
League East to five games. There was a far more rational explanation
for this lost series in the Bronx, which concluded with yesterday's
5-0 defeat. Offense, or rather, a lack thereof. The lasting effects
of this game surged beyond the day's antics. Though it is quite
possible that a Yankees batter could see a pitch, say, high and tight
in the teams' final series of the season Sept. 14-16, the Red Sox
acknowledge they need to improve on this offensive display.
And that's
all the more crucial without the services of Manny Ramirez and his strained left
oblique. As the enigmatic Ramirez offered only that he was feeling "all right.
No pain, no gain," the explanations were less cryptic and more critical from his
teammates.
By going
hitless over the first six innings yesterday, the Red Sox suffered through at
least five innings of no-hit ball in two straight games, the only time in 40
years that has happened, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Yet, amid the
dominance of Chien-Ming Wang and the third game in this series in which the Red
Sox scored three or fewer runs, there was a positive development: Curt Schilling
controlling a team that clearly knows what it's doing offensively, something
that could have playoff implications.
Despite a
fastball that didn't reach 90 miles per hour until Schilling faced Jorge Posada
in the fourth, the pitcher allowed just two solo home runs, both to Robinson
Cano, in seven innings. The first came on a first-pitch fastball that ended up
over the middle of the plate before being deposited over the center-field fence.
The second came on a hanging splitter that ended up not far from the first.
Three more runs, all scored in the eighth, were charged to Hideki Okajima.
But
Schilling was taking no consolation in his outing, the first time he had gone
more than six innings since his one-hitter in Oakland June 7. His second
straight strong start had ended in a loss, in a game he deemed important, in a
game that meant the difference between a five-game lead and a seven-game
advantage.
With the Red
Sox struggling to create opportunities with just four base runners in the first
six innings, all on walks, Youkilis began the seventh by bending out of the way
of a Jason Giambi tag, a play on which Derek Jeter was assessed a throwing
error. Mike Lowell followed with a single through the hole between first and
second (a hole that might not have been there if not for the error), the first
Red Sox hit. Then came J.D. Drew. The much-maligned right fielder sent a pitch
to third base, where it was fielded by Alex Rodriguez, who came in on the ball.
He moved toward Youkilis to apply the tag, at which point Youkilis attempted to
avoid it, putting one foot on the grass. Rodriguez, assuming Youkilis was out
for having left the baseline, threw to first for what he thought was a double
play. That's what the scoreboard operator thought, too, as the words flashed in
center field. The umpires weren't so sure - at first.
The umpires
just had to get together to make sure they had it right and Francona wanted to
get run there. He just persisted in the discussion long after it was finished.
Francona clearly didn't quite agree. That much was quite clear. During the game
and afterward, as the effects of three straight losses began to sink in.
When Terry
Francona exploded out of the dugout he also gave the 55,067 fans at Yankee
Stadium (and those watching at home) a good view of his attire, namely his
long-sleeve blue pullover. It is an article that has become a point of
contention for Francona and Major League Baseball. So much so that the fashion
police invaded the Red Sox dugout.
While Bobby
Kielty's back still isn't quite right, just learning that an MRI and X-rays had
come back negative was a balm to the injured outfielder, who added that the pain
had been unbearable the last few days. With Manny Ramirez out indefinitely
because of a strained left oblique, Kielty's right-handed bat in the outfield
becomes even more important.
