Papi-Powered Sox Brush Aside Yankees

The Boston Red Sox, in a nationally televised game yesterday, swept past the New York Yankees for the second time in as many days. The final score was 7-5. Josh Beckett gave up 4 runs in the first 2 innings and needed 43 pitches in that span. But then he settled down and at one point retired 14 of 15 batters. He pitched until there were 2 outs in the 7th inning. It was then that the Darkman, cult figure in the making Hideki Okajima, kept the score 7-5 by getting 2 crucial outs. Timlin followed, pitching the remainder of the 8th, and the bridge to Papelbon was complete. And Paps did not let us down. This is from the NY Times....

The Yankees, or what was left of them, were no match for the Boston Red Sox, who overwhelmed Jeff Karstens in a 7-5 victory. It was the Yankees’ second loss this weekend, and they will face Daisuke Matsuzaka on Sunday as they try to avoid a sweep.
“Our goal right now is to try to stay as close as possible,” said Damon, who grounded out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.
.......the Yankees trudged off with a loss, despite scoring twice in the first and second innings against Josh Beckett. Rodriguez doubled to lead off the third, but Beckett retired 14 of the next 15 hitters, mixing his pitches better to stifle the Yankees.
Jason Giambi struck out twice against Beckett, both times looking, and later fanned with two men on against the left-hander Hideki Okajima. Beckett’s pitching line was spotty — six and two-thirds innings, nine hits and four earned runs — but he struck out seven. He became the first pitcher in the majors with four victories.
“That’s the best I’ve seen him look with his breaking ball and changeup, no doubt, since he came to the American League,” Giambi said. “That’s why he’s off to such a good start.”

Peter here, and nice words indeed from Mr. Giambi. Josh Beckett, after a tough first 2 innings, showed us why he is off to such a good start as he settled down and became nearly unhittable during the middle innings. And with Big Papi David Ortiz driving in 4 runs with a 2 run double in the first and a 2 run home run in the 4th, the Red Sox established a lead they would never give up, thanks to the persistance of Josh Beckett, the elusive heroics of the Darkman, the steadiness of Mike Timlin and Paps, well, just being Paps.
The Red Sox are 11-5, tied for the best record in the major leagues. They play the Yankees one more time tonight, at 8:30 in the national game of the week on ESPN. They go for the sweep with Daisuke Matsuzaka opposing Yankee rookie Chase Wright. But it's the Yankees doing the chasing right now in the AL East, and that's just the way we like it. And maybe, for a change, there will be run support for Daisuke.
I linked a very nice NY Times article about the Darkman and his developing importance to the team we love. Just click on the title, and remember....the Darkman lives. And the Red Sox are right with him. Enjoy your Sunday.....we go for the sweep tonight in what promises to be a fine night weather-wise for baseball. Yankee-Red Sox baseball. Need I say more?
Don't forget to click on the title for more on the game, and the Darkman. A smile is guaranteed. Promise.