Sox in the Bronx

The Red Sox (62-44) enter this series 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees (65-42) coming into this always crucial and always fun rivalry. Four game weekend series in the Bronx are never dull. This series should be more of the same.

The fact that the Yankees are 0-8 vs. Boston this year is stunning but hardly relevant now since the teams haven't played since June. I would think that the pressure for this series is still on the Yankees even though they are ahead in the standings, they still have to prove to themselves that they can beat the Red Sox. I expect a hard fought, well played series. Realistically I would be pleased if the Sox can split these four games and clinch the season series which would ensure any tie breaker scenarios for playoff positioning go Boston's way.

I'll also admit that the Sox have been in a funk since the All-Star break, while the Yankees have been playing some of their best ball of the year lately. I can take some solace in the fact that when these teams last met in June the Yankees were also playing well and Boston's sweep put them in a funk for a few weeks. Hopefully that will be the case here.

Here are the pitching match ups for the series:

Thursday, Aug 6^th: at New York 13, Boston 6
Smoltz (2-4) v. Chamberlain (7-2)
WP=Chamberlain (8-2), LP=Smoltz (2-5)
All I can say is, "Ouch, this one hurts."

Friday, Aug 7^th: at New York 2, Boston 0 (15 innings)
Beckett (13-4) v. Burnett (10-5)
WP=Coke (3-3), LP=Tazawa (0-1)
What a duel! What a heartbreaker! Ouch again...

Saturday, Aug 8^th: at New York 5, Boston 0
Buccholz (1-1) v. Sabathia (11-7)
WP=Sabathia (12-7), LP=Buchholz (1-2)
O offense, wherefore art thou? 3x ouch!

Sunday, Aug 9^th: at New York 5, Boston 2
Lester (9-7) v. Pettite (9-6)
WP=Coke (4-3), LP=Bard (0-1), SV=Rivera (32)
Red Sox lost weekend in NY complete - including 31 consecutive scoreless innings (most since 1974).


As always, this post will be updated after each game with the results and link to the recap and box score.

The Red Sox next shot at redemption comes Aug 21-23, when the Yankees make their final regular season Fenway appearance.