Sox Sweep Yankees In New York (4/25/04)

The bad news was the Boston Celtics were eliminated in Game 4 of their first round NBA playoff series by the Indiana Pacers but the good news was the Boston Red Sox swept the New York Yankees out of New York. Yankee fans have been saying they "own" Pedro Martinez (3-1, 3.03 ERA) because of some of the Yankees success against him in year's past, but not tonight. Pedro was vintage Pedro as he shut down the Yankees for seven shutout innings. Pitching on three day's rest, his counterpart Javier Vazquez didn't give an inch. The only runs of the game were scored when Manny Ramirez hit a two run home run in the top of the fourth. Otherwise Pedro didn't allow a run and just four hits in his outing. Scott Williamson turned back the clock to last October as he shut the Yankees down in the final two innings to preserve the win. The Sox have taken 7 of the first 8 games against the Yankees including a series sweep 2-0 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                           Happy Sox fans

Vazquez got the ball in the top of the first and Johnny Damon hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Mark Bellhorn struck out swinging and David Ortiz got a base hit just over the head of Derek Jeter. Jorge Posada dropped a pop up by Manny Ramirez for an error but Manny struck out swinging anyway to end the inning. Martinez got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jeter struck out swinging to start. Bernie Williams grounded out to first and Kevin Millar made a diving catch to rob Alex Rodriguez of a hit to end the inning.

Millar got hit with a pitch to start the top of the second but was thrown out trying to steal on a swinging strikeout by Jason Varitek. David McCarty struck out swinging to end the inning. Jason Giambi froze for strike three to begin the bottom of the second but Gary Sheffield got a base hit to center. Posada popped up to short and Hideki Matsui flied out to left to end the inning.

Cesar Crespo's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Posada to start the top of the third before Pokey Reese struck out swinging. Damon struck out swinging to end the inning. Ruben Sierra lined a ball off Pedro right to Crespo who threw to first for the out to start the bottom of the third. Enrique Wilson struck out swinging and Jeter flied out to right to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the fourth as Bellhorn walked to start. Ortiz took strike three but Manny hit a hanging curveball into the upper deck in left to put Boston on top. Millar lined out to short and Varitek flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.

                                                            Home run Ramirez

Williams flied out to center to begin the bottom of the fourth but A-Rod singled to right. A-Rod stole second but Giambi flied out to left. Sheffield took strike three to end the inning.

McCarty grounded out to short to begin the top of the fifth before Crespo lined out to Sheffield. Reese reached on an error when Giambi couldn't pick a throw by Jeter. Damon lined out to right to end the inning. Posada walked to start the bottom of the fifth before Matsui was frozen for strike three. Sierra doubled to right but Wilson popped up to short. Jeter took strike three to end the inning.

Bellhorn grounded out to second to start the top of the sixth before Ortiz hit a pop up down the left field line that neither Jeter and Matsui fielded, bouncing into the seats for a ground rule double. Ramirez ripped a base hit to center to put runners at the corners but Millar took strike three. Varitek flied out to left to end the inning. Williams watched strike three go by to start the bottom of the sixth but A-Rod doubled to right. Rodriguez moved to third on the Giambi grounder to second but Sheffield hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.

Paul Quantrill came in to pitch the top of the seventh as McCarty grounded back to the mound to start. Crespo flied out to center and Reese struck out swinging to end the inning. Pedro returned for one final inning in the bottom of the seventh, getting Posada to ground out to first to start. Matsui flied out to center and Sierra grounded out to third to end the inning. Pedro was outstanding, tossing 7 shutout innings while allowing just 4 hits and a walk.

                                                        Good work Pedro

Gabe White came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Damon walked to start. Bellhorn flied out to right and Ortiz flied out to center to chase White. Tom Gordon came in to pitch to Manny but a wild pitch moved Damon to second. Ramirez was eventually intentionally walked but Millar struck out swinging to end the inning. Scott Williamson came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth with Gabe Kapler taking over in right. Travis Lee pinch hit for Wilson and hit one up the elevator shaft before Jeter struck out swinging. Williams grounded out to first to end the inning.

Mariano Rivera came in to pitch the top of the ninth with Miguel Cairo now at second. Varitek lined one off Rivera but Cairo threw him out at first to start. McCarty walked but Crespo struck out swinging. Reese grounded out to third to end the inning. Williamson returned for the bottom of the ninth and A-Rod grounded out to third to start. Giambi grounded out to short and Sheffield struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had swept the Yankees out of New York 2-0.

                                                            Sox win

Hero of The Night is Pedro Martinez. He pitched 7 shutout innings allowing 4 hits and a walk while striking out 7.

                                                              Hero Pedro

The Good:

David Ortiz was 2 for 4.

Manny Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a walk and a 2 run home run.

Scott Williamson got the save with 2 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Jason Varitek was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Cesar Crespo was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Pokey Reese was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Johnny Damon was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.

Mark Bellhorn was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.

David McCarty was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.

Honorable Mention:

Gabe Kapler played right field in the final two innings.

Final Thoughts:

How sweep it is! The Red Sox have utterly dominated the Yankees so far this season winning 6 out of 7 to start. Yankee fans were bragging that they own Pedro but he owned them tonight. The crowd was chanting "Let's go Red Sox" by the end of the game and big props to Manny Ramirez for making that happen. Johnny Damon himself admitted Manny was their best hitter the entire weekend and its hard to argue. The Sox haven't swept the Yankees in Yankee Stadium since the famous September 99 series where Pedro struck out 17. He didn't strike out 17 this time but he got the win anyway. The Sox bullpen has been red hot this season and Williamson filled in for Keith Foulke like it was October of last year. If the quartet of Williamson, Foulke, Mike Timlin and Alan Embree can stay healthy, they'll go a long way this year. The only thing to complain about is the bottom of the order at the plate, but Pokey Reese plays good defense and the eventual return of Nomar Garciaparra will limit the likes of Cesar Crespo to utility duty. All in all it was a great win and the Sox now head home for a three game set with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beginning Tuesday night. After an off-day tomorrow, Curt Schilling (2-1) takes on Paul Abbot of the Rays. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.