A Fine Friday Night

Nights just don't get better than this. The Red Sox jumped out to an early lead against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on home runs by Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek and David Ortiz, and coasted into a 5-3 win. Matt Clement pitched six solid innings, and it was perhaps his best outing of the year so far. The bullpen was stellar as usual, although Keith Foulke allowed a two-run double to Chase Utley that was charged to Clement. Jonathan Papelbon was outstanding in getting his major league leading 15th save.

I watched the game at Professor Thom's, and the Mets-Yankees game was on the TV next to the Red Sox game. Just about everyone was paying as much attention to that game as well. The Yankees jumped all over Mets starter Jeremi Gonzalez for four first inning runs, but Randy Johnson was going for the Yankees, so I knew the Mets had a chance. The first two Mets reached before Carlos Beltran hit a three-run bomb to left to put the Mets right back into it. The Mets tied it at 5 in the fourth on Xavier Nady's homer, and they tied it again in the sixth to chase Johnson. The Big Unit is just a shell of his former greatness, and the Yankees are in big trouble if he doesn't get his act together.

Aaron Heilman was the player of the game, as he pitched three perfect innings to shut the Yankees down. In the bottom of the ninth, David Wright launched a game-winning double off loser Mariano Rivera (who's been less than stellar as well) over Johnny Damon's head to give the Mets a huge come-from-behind win. The bar erupted in joy over the Mets win.

You can't beat nights like this. The Red Sox are now 1 1/2 games in first, and take on the Phillies with Josh Beckett facing Brett Myers in a terrific matchup tonight. I will also be one of the thousands of Red Sox Nation who will be in attendance.

My next post will be Sunday night. See you then.