Idle Sox Gain as Blue Jays Win

The Red Sox were idle on Thursday, as they get ready for a three-game series with the Yankees that starts Friday night at Fenway. New York was in action against the Blue Jays in Toronto tonight, and it was a pitcher's duel between A.J. Burnett and Ian Kennedy.

Both pitchers were very good, and the game remained tied into the ninth. Lyle Overbay saved the game for the Jays with two outs and two men on by making a diving stop of a liner hit by Melky Cabrera to end the inning. The Yankees brought in Chris Britton (who?) to pitch the bottom of the ninth, and as soon as I saw him I thought, "This game is about to end."

And sure enough, he gave up a single to Alex Rios, who immediately stole second. Frank Thomas then singled him in to put the Yankees 5 1/2 games back and end their winning streak.

Daisuke Matsuzaka goes for the Red Sox tomorrow, and has a lot to prove. He's been horrible, and the Sox need him to get back on the winning track and pitch a solid game.

The Red Sox Magic Number is now 11, and in this post we remember the man who was known as "The Professional Hitter." He got two of the biggest hits in the championship season of 2004, and they were both off Mariano Rivera at Fenway Park. It's a shame his career ended so prematurely. But our hats off to Bill Mueller, "The Yankee Killer."

By the way, don't those standings on the Fenway wall look appropriate?