Paul Byrd didn't miss many bats last night. No problem, because most of those balls were directed to Boston fielders, and Red Sox hitters pounded Yankees pitching. In his first start in a Red Sox uniform against a team other than Toronto, the soft-tossing Byrd limited New York to two runs and five hits over six innings while Boston bats erupted for 11 runs and 13 hits off Sidney Ponson and company in an 11-3 victory.
Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay were the offensive heroes. Pedroia's grand slam in the eighth inning off David Robertson broke the game open. Overall, the second baseman had three hits, three runs and four RBI. Bay ripped a clutch two-run double with two outs in the first inning off Ponson and added a sacrifice fly and an RBI triple, matching Pedroia's four RBI.
Byrd was vintage Byrd. Known as a control artist who throws strikes and keeps hitters off balance with his floaters and 80-something fast balls, the right-hander did allow a run in each inning he surrendered a walk, but mostly he made the Yankees put the ball in play. Manny Delcarmen tossed a scoreless seventh inning when the game was close at 4-2. Mike Timlin contributed two innings of mop-up work, allowing a home run to Jason Giambi for the third time this year.
This was a typical Red Sox-Yankees contest until the eighth inning. Holding a 4-2 lead, Boston greeted right-handed reliever Jose Veras rather rudely. Kevin Youkilis opened the frame with a base hit and scored on Bay's triple. Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek walked to load the bases. Alex Cora followed with a sacrifice fly for a 6-2 Red Sox advantage. Coco Crisp chased Robertson with an RBI single. After Robertson replaced Veras, Jacoby Ellsbury lined a base hit to load the bases again, setting the stage for Pedroia's first career grand slam. That ended the scoring for Boston, but it was more than enough.
Now 77-55, the Red Sox remain 3.5 games behind Tampa Bay, which edged Toronto, 1-0. Boston has a 2.5-game lead over Minnesota in the wild card standings. The Yankees dipped to 10.5 games out of first place, just two games ahead of the fourth place Blue Jays.
Jon Lester opposes Mike Mussina in the series finale this afternoon. How great would it be if the Red Sox swept the Yankees in the rivalry's last series at Yankee Stadium? I think it would be memorable, especially considering that historically the Sox have not fared well in The House That Ruth (and the Red Sox) Built.
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