The Boston Red Sox came into New York on Thursday in desperate need of a win after losing 5 straight games while even though the New York Yankees had put up 18 runs the other night, their offense had been struggling. So after Thursday’s loss, Yanks skipper Joe Girardi held a team meeting chastising his team.

It looked as though the meeting had worked as the Yanks offense came alive in the 1st inning scoring 3 runs off the Red Sox ace Josh Beckett after their starter Darrell Rasner escape a huge jam in the top of the inning. But that was all the Yankees offense would muster up for runs in the game until a gift run in the 9th inning as Beckett settled down and the Red Sox bullpen did it’s job for once this week even though Hideki Okajima continues to struggle.

Part of the reason for the Red Sox success these past two games is the reemergence of their bats. In the past two games, they have pounded out 12 hits in support of their pitching staff. Dustin Pedroia continues to swing a hot stick and Mike Lowell continues to produce despite the Red Sox really not wanting him when he came over in the Beckett deal with the Marlins.

Manny Delcarmen came in for the Red Sox yesterday in a tough spot. Okajima left him with the bases loaded and Alex Rodriguez at the plate. It would be Delcarmen who would win the battle as ARod grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

“Coming in there with the bases loaded is always a tough time,” Delcarmen said. “I’m just glad I got him out. We started out on a first-pitch curveball that kind of slipped out of my hand. We normally pound him inside with fastballs. I don’t think he was expecting a changeup inside. I threw him another curveball, swing and a miss. The ground ball he hit – I wanted to bury the curveball – I left it up a little bit. But it was enough to have him hit it on the ground.”

ARod must love waking up in the morning and seeing his estranged wife grace the cover of the NY Post while leaving the spacial pad of Lenny Kravitz.

The Yankees rotation has been putting a lot of pressure on it’s bullpen.

Manny Ramirez said he’d like to finish his career in Boston but would go anywhere if the Red Sox don’t renew his contract.

Big Papi’s rehab has been slow and painful for the big slugger.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman says he’s to blame for the Yankees offensive struggles.

The Yankees got a gift run in the 9th inning when third base umpire Wally Bell ruled that Coco Crisp trapped the ball despite replays showing making the catch. Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon was okay with the call though.

“I said awhile back, I liked the umpires not having the instant replays with the home runs and that other stuff,” Papelbon said. “I still feel the same way. I really do. It’s part of the game. We don’t need instant replay. The guys we’ve got can do a good enough job. You have to understand they’re going to miss some calls. There’s the human factor there. It’s that simple.”

“We won the game and they blew a call, whoop-de-do,” Papelbon said. “I didn’t let it affect me. I was confused, obviously, because I saw him catch it. I think I had a better view from the mound than [Bell] did at third base. If I’m a player where I’m going to let the umpires take me out of my game or affect how I play, I’m not going to be very successful.”

Johnny Damon almost made a great catch that could have changed the momentum of the game but he ended up with a shoulder injury and quite possibly a trip to the disabled list.

For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.

And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the NY Post, NY Daily News, Newsday and Lo Hud websites.