Seven Straight

It was another edition of "Jonathan Papelbon Heart Attack Theater" last night, as Pap came on with a 6-5 lead last night, and after getting Mark Teixeira to ground out, he walked Slappy. Then pinch-runner Ramiro Pena stole second, but was left there when Pap struck out Robinson Cano and got Jorge Posada to fly harmlessly to left to end it.

Nothing comes easy with Papelbon these days.

It was another night of the Red Sox dominating the Yankees. They put in Chien-Ming Wang, and he had nothing, and gave up 4 runs in 2 2/3 innings. (That was two straight Yankee starts of 2 2/3 innings.) His ERA in his first five starts of the season is now over 21.00, which is an MLB record for highest ERA after the first five starts of a season.

Mike Lowell went deep, and Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run shot (pictured) that was eventually the difference in the game. Tim Wakefield won his eighth game of the season, going six innings, allowing three runs. Ramon Ramirez had his first lousy outing of the year, giving up two home runs that made it 6-5. But Hideki Okajima, who continues to show his 2007 fine form again, was lights out in the eighth before handing it off to Papelbon.

The Sox have now won the first seven games from New York this year, and the last eight overall. Tuesday night was a nice easy game, but last night was a roller coaster ride. We'll see what happens tonight, as New York sends C.C. Sabathia on the mound against Brad Penny, as the Red Sox, now one game up in the AL East, go for the sweep.