The Red Sox started the game last night with a tongue and cheek, but also really nice ceremony honoring Mariano Rivera since it was the last time he would be at Fenway Park before retiring as the best closer to ever play the game. The Sox honored him by honoring his accomplishments in 2004 that helped bring the Red Sox their first World Series in 86 years. Mo is a legend, but I also love his sense of humor and humility.
The Sox then got to playing the game of baseball with Clay Buchholz on the mound vs. Ivan Nova. Buchholz didn't look as sharp as he did in his last start, but easily pitched well enough for the win. Buchholz gave up a run in the 1st inning when he walked Granderson, then Granderson got to third when Clay made one of his famous errant throws to 1st base and he came home when ARod hit a sac grounder. Sox 0-1. The Yankees didn't keep the lead for long though. In the bottom of the inning Papi hit an RBI single to score Nava and then Mike Napoli continued to just kill the Yankees when he hit a 2 run homerun. Sox 3-1. In the 4th inning something unthinkable and completely awesome happened, as part of a double steal Jarrod Saltalamacchia stole home to score the 4th run. Sox 4-1. In the 5th the Sox added another run when Nova hit Carp with the bases loaded to force in a run. Sox 5-1. That was enough to knock Nova out of the game and be able to get at the Yankees depleted bullpen.
Buchholz pitched 6 strong innings and while he walked more batters than I would like, he was able to keep the Yankees off the scoreboard after the first inning. Buchholz's line for the night was 91 pitches, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BBs and 3 Ks. Buchholz's ERA is now down to 1.51. Matt Thornton came on in the 7th and had himself a scoreless inning even though he gave up two singles when Stewart did him a favor by grounding into a double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the 7th the Sox added a couple more runs to the board when Pedey hit a 2 run RBI double. Sox 9-1. Breslow pitched a scoreless 8th inning and then handed the ball to Allen Webster in the 9th. Webster gave up an RBI single to Ichiro to give the Yankees their second and final run of the game, but got the 3 outs to get the win and the SWEEP of the Yankees.
With the win last night the Yankees have officially been eliminated from winning the AL East. The Rays also lost last night so the Magic Number for the Sox to win the AL East is at 4.
Red Sox 9 Yankees 2 BOXSCORE
WP: Buchholz (11-0) LP: Nova (8-5)
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