Amidst swirling trade rumors that Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa wants to play for the Boston Red Sox, the Sox made their case as being the place to be as they defeated the repeat world champion New York Yankees. The Yankees knocked starter Brian Rose out in the third inning and the Boston bullpen tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Jason Varitek clobbered a 2 run home run off Orlando Hernandez that turned out to be the difference in the game. The Sox jumped into a tie for first place with New York with a 5-3 win at Yankee Stadium.
Hernandez took the mound in the top of the first inning and Jose Offerman flied out to left to start. Jeff Frye doubled to left before Trot Nixon drew a walk. Nomar Garciaparra banged into a double play to end the inning. The Yankees immediately pounced on Brian Rose in the bottom of the first inning. Chuck Knoblauch took strike three to start but Derek Jeter doubled to left. Jeter moved to third on the fly out by Paul O'Neil and Bernie Williams doubled home Jeter to give the Yankees the lead. Tino Martinez whiffed to end the inning but it was 1-0 Yankees.
The Sox answered in the top of the second inning as Carl Everett singled to left to begin. Brian Daubach flied out to left before Everett was erased on the force by Troy O'Leary. Varitek drew a walk and Wilton Veras singled home O'Leary to tie the game. Offerman whiffed to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Jorge Posada flied out to left to begin the bottom of the second before Ricky Ledee walked. Shane Spencer doubled to right but Scott Brosius failed to get the run in with a pop up to left. Knoblauch took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the third inning as Frye walked to start. Jeff moved to second on the Nixon grounder before Nomar lined a base hit to left. Ledee booted the ball and Frye scored on the error. Everett tripled to the centerfield wall to increase the lead. Daubach hit a ground ball to second but Everett was thrown out at home on the play. O'Leary flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
The Yankees pounded Rose in the bottom of the third as Jeter and O'Neill drew back to back walks to start. Williams hit a double play ball to second but Rose dropped the relay throw, putting runners at the corners on the error. The Yankees made Rose pay as Martinez doubled home Jeter and Posada singled home Williams to tie the game. Ledee was intentionally walked to load the bases and that was it for Rose. He lasted just 2 1/3 innings and gave up 3 runs, he's simply not that good. Hipolito Pichardo came in and got Spencer to hit into a double play to end the inning but it was tied 3-3.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Varitek grounded back to the mound to start. Veras whiffed and Offerman flied out to left to end the inning. Brosius walked to start the bottom of the fourth but Knoblauch flied out to center and the alert Varitek gunned down Brosius trying to steal. Jeter grounded out to third to end the inning.
Hernandez cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Frye grounded out to second to start. Nixon lined out to left and Nomar grounded out to short to end the inning. The Yankees threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning although O'Neill grounded out to first to start. Williams walked before Martinez flied out to left. Williams stole second before Posada walked. Ledee grounded into a force to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the sixth inning as Everett doubled to center to begin. Everett moved to third on the Daubach grounder but O'Leary flied out to left. Varitek then put the Sox on top with a 2 run blast to shut up the Yankee fans. Veras grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3.
Rich Garces came in for the bottom of the sixth and Spencer flied out to center to start. Brosius whiffed but Knoblauch singled and stole second. Jeter flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the seventh and Offerman singled to left to begin. Frye whiffed and Nixon flied out to center. Nomar singled Offerman to third to chase Hernandez. Mike Stanton came in and got Everett to ground into a force to end the inning. Garces returned for the bottom of the seventh as O'Neill lined out to first to begin before Williams grounded back to the mound. Martinez looked at strike three to end the inning.
Daubach doubled to start the top of the eighth and Donnie Sadler pinch ran for him. O'Leary, Varitek and Veras all whiffed in short order to end the inning. Rheal Cormier came in for the bottom of the eighth and got Posada to line out to right to start. Felix Jose pinch hit for Ledee and grounded out to short to start. Spencer whiffed to end the inning.
Offerman lined out to right to begin the top of the ninth before Frye also flied out to right. Nixon whiffed to end the inning. Derek Lowe came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Brosius grounded out to short to begin. Knoblauch walked to bring the tying run to the plate but Jeter grounded out to second. O'Neill flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-3.
Hero of the Night is Jason Varitek. His 2 run home run proved to be the difference maker in the game.
The Good:
Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Carl Everett was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Hipolito Pichardo got the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Rich Garces pitched 2 scoreless innings.
Rheal Cormier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Derek Lowe earned his 15th save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Brian Rose allowed 3 runs in just 2 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Jose Offerman was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Jeff Frye was just 1 for 4 with a walk but scored a run.
Trot Nixon was just 0 for 4 but walked.
Brian Daubach was just 1 for 4.
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Wilton Veras was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Honorable Mention:
Donnie Sadler pinch ran for Daubach.
Final Thoughts:
Big win against the 3-peat world champion New York Yankees. Brian Rose sucked the big one but this was a huge win considering its Pedro vs Roger tomorrow. The Sox can take sole possession of first place with a win tomorrow but it won't be easy. As for this game, great job by Varitek and the bullpen to keep the Sox in the lead. The Sox offense is in a slump with the loss of John Valentin and the deterioration of O'Leary, Mike Stanley and Offerman. Stanley is aging and Offerman has been hurt but who knows what the hell is wrong with O'Leary. Still, bad offense aside the Sox are in the hunt and beating the Yankees is nothing to sneeze at. The win improved the Sox to 34-26, percentage points behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon is the big rematch between Sox ace Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. Two weeks ago they put on one of the best pitcher's duels of the year. They look to do it again at 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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