Rays Sacrifice to Stay Alive

It's difficult to say a team has their backs to the wall after the first game of a seven game playoff series, but that was really the case for the Tampa Rays last evening. Going back to Boston down two games to none, would have created a nearly impossible feat even for an experienced playoff team. But the Rays won't have to worry about that situation. Last night they pulled out a see-saw battle with the Red Sox on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning.

If Terry Francona has made a mistake in this playoff, it's keeping Mike Timlin on the post-season roster. While the thinking was probably not use Timlin in a big situation, Francona had no choice last night after having used five relievers, including his closer Jon Papelbon for 1.1 innings.

Timlin walked Dioner Navarro and light hitting Ben Zobrist to start the inning. Jason Bartlett's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base, forcing the Red Sox to intentionally walk Aki Iwamura to load the bases. That brought up B.J. Upton, who hit a fly to shallow right. The Rays gambled that J.D. Drew, running hard on the play, would not be able to set himself for an accurate throw home. The gamble paid off when speedy pinch-runner Fernando Perez slid home with the winning run ahead of an off the target throw by Drew.

The Rays would not have been in position to win if not for the relief work of veteran Dan Wheeler and rookie David Price. Wheeler had to bounce back after his wild pitch allowed the Red Sox to tie the game in the eighth inning. But he tossed a scoreless ninth and tenth before leaving with one man out in the 11th and runner on a first. Price, the number one overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, walked Drew, but struck out Mark Kotsay looking and got Coco Crisp to bounce into an inning ending ground out.

Neither starter pitched well, with Boston's Josh Beckett fighting a strained oblique and Tampa's Scott Kazmir continuing his '08 struggles against the Red Sox. Boston struck first against Kazmir, who was 0-2, 9.00 in four starts against the Sox this season. Kazmir's control problems came up to bite him in the first inning when he issued a two out walk to David Ortiz. Kevin Youkilis followed with a single and Jason Bay brought them both home with a double. Kazmir walked Jed Lowrie, but struck out Jason Varitek to escape further trouble.

The Rays came right back though when Evan Longoria smacked a 2-run home run, his third of the post-season, in the bottom half of the first. The tie only lasted until the third when Dustin Pedroia smashed a solo home run to left. That lead would last an even shorter amount of time when Upton crushed a 424-ft solo shot in the bottom of the third. Longoria stroked a one out double and came home on Carl Crawford's single for a 4-3 Rays lead.

Tampa extended their advantage to 5-3 when Cliff Floyd led off with a solo home run to straight away center field. But Kazmir wouldn't stick around to try to get the win. Pedroia's second solo shot of the game and Youkilis' own solo blast one batter later knocked Kazmir from the box and tied the game at 5-5. Bay greeted Grant Balfour with another solo home run to put the Red Sox ahead 6-5. Balfour then walked Lowrie and Varitek before J.P. Howell came on to work out of the jam.

Upton led off the fifth with a walk and promptly stole second base. Carlos Pena singled off of Beckett to tie the game and came home on Longoria's second double, and third extra base hit, of the ball game. Fracona finally yanked Beckett from the game, but Crawford laced reliever Javier Lopez's delivery to right for an RBI single and an 8-6 Rays lead. Manny DelCarmen was next out of the Boston pen and he finally quelled the fire.

Pedroia drew a one out walk in the sixth, but Howell struck out Ortiz looking. Joe Maddon went to the pen again for right-hander Chad Bradford, but Bradford gave up back to back singles to Youkilis and Bay to cut the Rays lead to 8-7.

After a scoreless seventh, only the second scoreless inning of the game, Pedroia singled off of Bradford to start the eighth. Maddon sent for lefty Trevor Miller to face Ortiz, but Big Papi drew a walk as well. Wheeler came on and got a big double play grounder from Youkilis, but then threw a fastball a mile over Navarro's head to allow Pedroia to score the tying run.

Box Score

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The Pennant Race - 10/2

Three of the four playoff series got underway yesterday, with some good games right off the bat.

Cole as Ice

It may have only been his second career playoff game, but Cole Hamels looked like Whitey Ford yesterday for the Phillies. Hamels limited the Brewers to just two runs over eight innings as the Phillies beat Milwaukee, 3-1.

Brad Lidge may have been 41-41 in save situations this season, but we still don't trust him in big spots. His performance yesterday did nothing to change that. Lidge struck out the side, but not before allowing a run on two hits and a walk.

Game 2 is tonight with CC Sabathia facing off against Brett Myers.


Loney Slams Cubs

It's a managerial match up of ex-Yankees managers. Joe Torre in his first year with the Dodgers and Lou Piniella in his second season with the Cubs. The Cubs sent 17-game winner Ryan Dempster to the mound in game one and things looked good as Chicago led 1-0 through four innings.

But James Loney, who was 3-4 in his only other playoff experience, hit his first career playoff grand slam to give the Dodgers the lead for good. Manny Ramirez added a solo shot for good measure, as did Russell Martin.

Dempster struggled with his control, walking seven Dodgers, while Dodgers starter Derek Lowe allowed two runs in six innings of work for the win. The series continues tonight at Wrigley with Chad Billingsley facing Carlos Zambrano.


Manny Who?

Everyone knows Jason Bay is very talented, but when you're in a deal for Manny Ramirez, you don't get a lot of attention. That may change after last night, when Bay's 2-run home run put the Red Sox ahead and catapulted them to a 4-1 win.

The Angels had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning against Boston starter Jon Lester, but Bay made his first playoff appearance a memorable one, hitting a John Lackey pitch over the left field wall.

Lester breezed through seven and the Red Sox gave Jon Papelbon room to work with, scoring a pair of runs off of Scot Shields in the ninth. The series continues on Friday night with Dice-K facing Ervin Santana.

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The Pennant Race - 9/10

We're back from vacation, tanned, rested, and ready to get back to full posting. The races in four of the six divisions continue to be exciting. The Angels have a magic number of two to clinch the AL West, and the Cubs aren't losing any ground, because the Brewers are losing as much as the Chi-town team.

Things have really gotten crazy out in the NL West. The Dodgers lost eight straight in August before winning their final two of the month. They've since won seven of their first eight games in September to, remarkably, pick up five games on the Diamondbacks. LA has gone from 2.5 games out to 2.5 in front. Last night they trailed the Padres 2-0 in the sixth inning when Manny Ramirez's solo home run ignited a comeback. Andre Ethier drove in four runs, including a back breaking 3-run double in the ninth inning.

The Diamondbacks meanwhile lost for the 12th time in 15 games. Chris Snyder hit a game tying, 2-run home run in the ninth against Giants closer Brian Wilson, but Eugenio Velez singled in the game winner in the home half of the ninth.

The Blue Jays continue to muck up contending team's plans. Yesterday they out pitched and out hit the White Sox in a doubleheader sweep to extend their winning streak to 10 games. A.J. Burnett won his 17th game in the opener, allowing just one hit over seven innings in a 3-1 Blue Jays win.

The Jays won the nightcap 8-2 behind seven strong innings from Jessie Litsch and three home runs. News also got worse for the White Sox, already without Carlos Quentin, when Paul Konerko went down with a sprained MCL. He'll be further evaluated today.

The Twins took advantage of the White Sox double demise with a 7-2 win over the Royals. The victory moved the Twins back to within one game of the AL Central lead. Justin Morneau continued his run at another MVP award with his 23rd home run and RBI, 118 and 119.

When Jason Bay hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning last night, it appeared the Red Sox would overtake Tampa for first place in the AL East, but the Rays had more up their sleeve. Dan Johnson took Jon Papelbon deep for a game tying home run in the ninth. One out later, pinch-hitter Fernando Perez and Dionner Navarro stroked back to back doubles to give the Rays a 5-4.

Troy Percival came on in the ninth and faced a two out challenge when pinch-runner Jacoby Ellsbury stole second base and moved to third base on Navarro's throwing error. But Percival got Coco Crisp to pop out to end the game and push the Rays lead back to 1.5 games.

10-8. Important numbers in the NL East. The Mets blew a 5-2 lead to the Nationals and then had to rally from an 8-7 deficit to beat Washington, 10-8. Carlos Delgado went from first half boos to second half chants of 'MVP' with games like last night's in which he slugged two home runs.

The Phillies trailed the Marlins 9-1 before rallying behind Ryan Howard's 41st home run. They fell short though and the Marlins emerged with a 10-8 win, dropping the Phillies 2.5 games behind the Mets.

The Cubbies struggles continue. They led the Cardinals 3-0 last night before Albert Pujols hit a game tying 3-run home run in the sixth inning. The game would remain tied until the ninth when pinch-runner Bo Ryan came home with the winning run on Caesar Izturis' grounder. The victory moved the Cardinals to within 4.5 games of the Brewers in the NL wildcard race.

The Cubs didn't lose any of their lead though as the Brewers rallied back from a 4-1 deficit, only to lose to the Reds, 5-4, in 11 innings. Ray Durham hit the game tying 3-run blast in the seventh. The Brewers remain 4.5 back of the Cubs in the NL Central, while maintaining their 3.5 game lead over the Phillies in the wildcard.

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We Sucked

Those were Hank Steinbrenner's words last night as he left the Stadium. It says it all.

August 27, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	7	0		11	13	0
NY Yankees	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1		3	8	0

Boston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Ellsbury, RF	5	2	2	0	0	2	0	.264
Pedroia, 2B	5	3	3	4	0	1	0	.317
Ortiz, DH	3	1	2	0	2	0	0	.267
Youkilis, 1B	4	1	1	1	1	1	4	.318
Bay, LF	4	1	2	4	0	0	1	.295
Lowrie, 3B	3	1	1	0	2	1	2	.296
Varitek, C	4	1	1	0	1	1	1	.224
Cora, SS	4	0	0	1	0	0	1	.267
Crisp, CF	4	1	1	1	0	1	0	.263
Totals	36	11	13	11	6	7	9
BATTING 2B: Ortiz (20, Ponson), Bay (27, Ponson), Lowrie (16, Ponson). 3B: Bay (4, Veras). HR: Pedroia (15, 8th inning off Robertson, 3 on, 1 out). TB: Ellsbury 2; Pedroia 6; Ortiz 3; Youkilis; Bay 5; Lowrie 2; Varitek; Crisp. RBI: Bay 4 (88), Youkilis (91), Cora (8), Crisp (33), Pedroia 4 (68). 2-out RBI: Bay 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cora; Lowrie. SF: Bay; Cora. GIDP: Youkilis. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING DP: (Pedroia-Cora-Youkilis).

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Byrd (W, 9-11)	6.0	5	2	2	2	5	0	4.55
Delcarmen (H, 17)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4.18
Timlin	2.0	3	1	1	0	0	1	5.09

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.313
Jeter, SS	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.294
Abreu, RF	3	1	0	0	1	0	2	.296
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	1	2	1	0	0	1	.310
Giambi, 1B	4	1	1	1	0	1	2	.247
Nady, LF	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.327
Matsui, DH	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.311
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	1	0	2	2	.268
Rodriguez, I, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.280
Totals	34	3	8	3	2	7	13
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A 2 (31, Byrd, Byrd). HR: Giambi (26, 9th inning off Timlin, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Damon; Jeter; Rodriguez, A 4; Giambi 4; Nady; Matsui; Cano. RBI: Rodriguez, A (79), Cano (59), Giambi (78). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A; Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Rodriguez, I. GIDP: Rodriguez, I. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING Outfield assists: Abreu (Bay at home). DP: (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Giambi).

NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Ponson (L, 7-5) 4.2 7 4 4 4 3 0 4.80 Ramirez 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.49 Marte 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.26 Veras 0.1 3 5 5 2 0 0 3.64 Robertson 0.2 3 2 2 0 0 1 6.31 Britton 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.02

Pitches-strikes: Byrd 106-66, Delcarmen 17-9, Timlin 21-15, Ponson 89-51, Ramirez 8-4, Marte 19-13, Veras 23-9, Robertson 18-10, Britton 10-9. Groundouts-flyouts: Byrd 4-9, Delcarmen 0-1, Timlin 5-1, Ponson 6-4, Ramirez 3-1, Marte 1-0, Veras 0-1, Robertson 1-1, Britton 1-0. Batters faced: Byrd 25, Delcarmen 3, Timlin 8, Ponson 23, Ramirez 4, Marte 3, Veras 6, Robertson 5, Britton 3. Inherited runners-scored: Ramirez 2-0, Robertson 2-2. Umpires: HP: Tim Timmons. 1B: Gary Cederstrom. 2B: Fieldin Culbreth. 3B: Jim Reynolds. Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, R to L. T: 3:16. Att: 55,027.

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Yankees Knuckle Under the Pressure

The way last night's Yankees-Red Sox game started out, it looked like whomever batted last would win the game. Only thing is, someone forgot to tell the Yankees. Lead by Alex Rodriguez, they failed in the clutch, Jason Giambi made a huge mental mistake, and Andy Pettitte picked the wrong night to have a miserable performance. The end result was a 7-3 Yankees loss that dropped them six games back of the Red Sox in the wildcard race.

The top of the order did everything they could in setting the table for the big guns that followed, but they flailed and failed miserably. Johnny Damon had a pair of solo home runs on the night, including one that led off the bottom of the first inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. But Pettitte gave it right back in the second inning.

In fairness, home plate ump Jim Reynolds was squeezing Pettitte, but he can't be blamed for the poor pitches Pettitte made all night. Pettitte escaped a two on, two out jam in the first inning (yes, we weren't disappointed..."he worked into, and out of, trouble"), but couldn't replicate his Houdini act in the second inning. Two out singles by Jeff Bailey, Kevin Cash, and Jacoby Ellsbury tied the game at 1-1.

The Yankees went back ahead in their half of the inning with a two out rally of their own off of Tim Wakefield. Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano set things up with singles, and Jose Molina delivered a big two out hit up the middle for an RBI single. With a chance for more, Damon grounded out to end the inning.

But this was not to be Andy Pettitte's finest hour. He was greeted in the third inning by back to back doubles by David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis to tie the game, and Jason Bay put the Red Sox on top for good with a single to center field.

The Red Sox added to their lead in the fifth inning with some help from Jason Giambi. Once again Pettitte retired the first two men he faced, but consecutive singles by Bay, Jed Lowrie, and Coco Crisp produced a fourth run. After Crisp stole second base, Bailey hit a high chopper near the line at third, A-Rod fielded it and fired across the diamond to Giambi, but not in time. The only problem was Giambi thought it was in time, and watched as Crisp, who never stopped running, scored behind Lowrie for a 6-2 lead. The play also ended the night for Pettitte, who gave way to Brian Bruney.

The Yankees had a chance to come right back against Wakefield in their half of the fifth inning. Damon's second home run cut the lead in half and Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu followed with one out singles. But A-Rod and Giambi both flied out to let Wakefield off the hook.

The Red Sox added another run in the seventh after Bruney walked the bases loaded (and yet Girardi left him in). Bay's sacrifice fly brought home the Sox seventh run and made a comeback that much more difficult. But the Yankees did have an opportunity against Javier Lopez in the seventh.

Walks to Damon and Abreu, sandwiched around a Jeter single, loaded the bases with just one out. But a chorus of boos would come crashing down from the fans when A-Rod bounced into an inning ending double play against Justin Masterson.

The Yankees tried again in the eighth. Giambi reached on an error and Xavier Nady singled to left. With two on and no one out, Terry Francona sent for left-hander Hideki Okajima. The Japanese import struck out his fellow countryman, Matsui, looking, and retired Robinson Cano on a pop up. Francona then went to his closer Jon Papelbon, who got the final out on a comebacker from Ivan Rodriguez.

The Yankees put a man on in the ninth, but it was apropos that A-Rod struck out to end the game.


News and Notes

A-Rod is 1-10 with the bases loaded this eason.

Johnny Damon's multi-homer game was the 11th of his career and first since 2006.

Dustin Pedroia's misplay in the eighth inning snapped a 61-game errorless streak.
Joba Chamberlain is set to throw another bullpen session on Thursday.

Lou Lamariello pulled the MetLife lever last night to reduce the number of Yankees home games to 15. They couldn't find a former Yankee to do it?


August 26, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	1	2	0	3	1	0	0	0		7	14	2
NY Yankees	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		3	10	1

Boston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Ellsbury, RF	6	0	1	1	0	2	3	.263
Pedroia, 2B	5	1	0	0	1	0	5	.315
Ortiz, DH	3	1	2	0	2	0	0	.263
Youkilis, 3B-1B	2	1	1	1	3	0	0	.319
Bay, LF	4	1	2	2	0	0	2	.293
Lowrie, SS-3B	5	1	1	0	0	1	6	.296
Crisp, CF	5	1	3	1	0	1	0	.263
Bailey, 1B	4	1	2	2	0	1	1	.278
Cora, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.278
Cash, C	4	0	2	0	1	1	2	.229
Totals	39	7	14	7	7	6	20
BATTING 2B: Ortiz 2 (19, Pettitte, Ramirez), Youkilis (35, Pettitte). TB: Ellsbury; Ortiz 4; Youkilis 2; Bay 2; Lowrie; Crisp 3; Bailey 2; Cash 2. RBI: Ellsbury (38), Youkilis (90), Bay 2 (84), Crisp (32), Bailey 2 (3). 2-out RBI: Ellsbury; Crisp; Bailey 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Bay; Pedroia 2; Lowrie 3. SF: Bay. GIDP: Lowrie. Team LOB: 13. BASERUNNING SB: Crisp (16, 2nd base off Pettitte/Molina). CS: Crisp (6, 2nd base by Robertson/Molina). FIELDING E: Pedroia (6, fielding), Lowrie (1, fielding). DP: 2 (Lowrie-Pedroia-Bailey, Cora-Youkilis).

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wakefield (W, 8-8)	5.0	8	3	3	1	1	2	3.73
Lopez	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.92
Delcarmen	0.1	1	0	0	2	1	0	4.25
Masterson (H, 2)	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	3.21
Okajima (H, 20)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.77
Papelbon (S, 34)	1.1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1.71

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	4	2	2	2	1	1	2	.313
Jeter, SS	5	0	2	0	0	0	0	.294
Abreu, RF	4	0	2	0	1	0	1	.298
Rodriguez, A, 3B	5	0	0	0	0	2	7	.308
Giambi, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.247
Nady, LF	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.328
Matsui, DH	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	.310
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.269
Molina, C	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	.230
a-Rodriguez, I, PH-C	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.283
Totals	37	3	10	3	3	6	20
a-Struck out for Molina in the 7th.
BATTING HR: Damon 2 (11, 1st inning off Wakefield, 0 on, 0 out; 5th inning off Wakefield, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 8; Jeter 2; Abreu 2; Nady; Matsui; Cano; Molina. RBI: Damon 2 (57), Molina (15). 2-out RBI: Molina. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon; Giambi; Rodriguez, I. GIDP: Rodriguez, A 2. Team LOB: 10. FIELDING E: Rodriguez, A (10, throw). DP: (Cano-Giambi).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (L, 13-10)	4.2	10	6	6	3	3	0	4.37
Bruney	1.1	0	1	1	3	0	0	2.38
Robertson	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	5.76
Ramirez	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3.59
Britton	1.0	2	0	0	0	1	0	4.30

Masterson pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

IBB: Youkilis (by Ramirez).
Pitches-strikes: Wakefield 80-55, Lopez 9-9, Delcarmen 18-7,
Masterson 9-6, Okajima 14-8, Papelbon 15-10, Pettitte 101-60,
Bruney 33-16, Robertson 13-10, Ramirez 15-8, Britton 18-12.
Groundouts-flyouts: Wakefield 7-7, Lopez 1-1, Delcarmen 0-0,
Masterson 2-0, Okajima 0-1, Papelbon 2-0, Pettitte 8-3, Bruney 1-3,
Robertson 0-0, Ramirez 1-2, Britton 0-2.
Batters faced: Wakefield 23, Lopez 3, Delcarmen 4, Masterson 3,
Okajima 2, Papelbon 5, Pettitte 26, Bruney 7, Robertson 3, Ramirez 6, Britton 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Masterson 3-0, Okajima 2-0, Papelbon 2-0, Bruney 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Jim Reynolds. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Gary Cederstrom. 3B: Fieldin Culbreth.
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, In from LF.
T: 3:22.
Att: 55,058.

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The Daily Yankeeland - 8/26

The Yankees and Red Sox start a HUGE three game series tonight at the Stadium. Barring some kind of ALCS miracle, it will be the Red Sox' last visit to this incarnation of Yankee Stadium.

Tim Wakefield (7-8, 3.67) comes off the DL tonight to start the series opener against Andy Pettitte (13-9, 4.17). Wednesday night is the real wildcard game with Paul Byrd (8-11,4.61) , acquired from the Indians, going up against Sidney Ponson (7-4, 4.67). Byrd is 1-1, 5.40 in his two starts with Boston, while Ponson is 4-1, 3.88 in nine starts since joining the Yankees.

Thursday's finale features the best pitching match up, with Jon Lester (12-5, 3.49) facing Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.45). Lester has allowed just two earned runs, in 16.1 innings, in his last two starts against the Yankees. Moose tossed six scoreless innings in a 2-1, July 5 win over Boston.

Mike Lupica says it's time for A-Rod to step up.

The Daily News and Star Ledger look back at the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry at the Stadium.

Joba Chamberlain continues his way back to the Yankees.

Jason Bay readies himself for the rivalry.

Ken Rosenthal thinks the Yankees' problems could overlap in 2009.

The Princeton Packet talks to recently-dealt Ross Ohlendorf.

The Yankees have renewed their agreement with Class 'A', Charleston for another four years.

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The Pennant Race - 8/19

CC Sabathia just keeps rolling along. Another complete game victory last night for the Brewers to up his record to 8-0 since the trade to Milwaukee. You do have to be concerned though with how Ned Yost is using him. He knows Sabathia won't be in Milwaukee next season so he obviously doesn't care. Already up 9-3 over the Astros, he not only had Sabathia bat in the eighth inning, but had him go out for the ninth as well. The big lefty ended up throwing 130 pitches.

Milwaukee sits 5 back of the Cubs, who had the night off.

The Mets bullpen imploded once again. Starter John Maine struggled, but still left the game after five innings with a 2-0 lead. Brian Stokes immediately blew the lead in the sixth, and Pedro Feliciano and Duaner Sanchez got touched up for three runs in the eighth to lose it, 5-2. Maine has allowed just 1 run in the 14.1 innings he's pitched since returning from the DL, but he has walked nine hitters.

The Phillies (1.5 GB) and Marlins (4 GB) both had the night off.

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks both were off so they remained tied for first place. There were interesting development in the NL West last night, though. For one nigh,t anyway, the Giants' Barry Zito looked like a pitcher. He tossed seven scoreless innings and only walked two batters in a 5-0 win over the Braves.

Jason Bay homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the Red Sox over the Orioles 6-3. Much has been made about Manny Ramirez's offense explosion in LA, but Bay hasn't been doing too badly himself. He's hitting .348-3-16 in 16 games with a .972 OPS. He's also 3-3 in stolen bases.

The Sox couldn't gain any ground on the Rays though, as Tampa defeated the Angels 6-4. Eric Hinske and Cliff Floyd went deep and Dan Wheeler picked up his second consecutive save in place of the injured Troy Percival. Hinske's home run was his 19th, the most he has hit since he belted 24 in his 2002 rookie campaign.

The White Sox pounded the Mariners 13-5. The Chisox couldn't work out a deal for Jarrod Washburn, so they blasted him for 8 runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Alexi Ramirez has quietly put together a very good rookie year. The soon-to-be 27-year old has played both middle infield positions as well as centerfield, and has driven in 51 runs in 98 games, including four last night. He's also batting .308 with 13 home runs. Carlos Quentin hit his major league-leading 35th home run in the game.

The White Sox are now in sole possession of first place in the AL Central after the A's beat the Twins 3-2. Justin Duchscherer had to leave the game in the third inning with a hip injury, but Kirk Saarloos and the A's pen did the job the rest of the way. Joe Mauer, looking to win his second batting title, moved into the AL lead at .325.

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