The New York Yankees put the pedal to the metal right out of the gates on Friday night as they pounded out 23 hits on their way to a 20-11 win over the Boston Red Sox in front of 37,869 at Fenway Park.
The loss for the Red Sox ended a 3-game winning streak and dropped them to 7.5 games behind the Yanks for first in the AL East. More importantly, they maintain their one-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the wild card as they lost to the Tampa Bay Rays. By the way, the Rays are just three games behind the local nine in the wild card standings.
Brad Penny started the game for the Red Sox and just flat out sucked. There’s really no other way to describe it. His fastball was flat and the Yankees took advantage of that time and time again. He allowed 8 runs on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in just 4 innings.
The bullpen wasn’t much better although Michael Bowden, fresh from Triple-A Pawtucket, stood up and took one for the team. He gave up 7 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks in 2 innings. Bowden was sent back to Pawtucket after the game.
Manny Delcarmen allowed a run in an inning of work while Takashi Saito struck out one. Ramon Ramirez worked the 9th inning and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits and a walk.
Andy Pettitte wasn’t much better for the Yankees but he didn’t really have to be since he was given a big lead. In 5 innings, Pettitte gave up 7 runs (5 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks with four strikeouts.
Brian Bruney worked 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for AL East leaders and allowed a hit and walked three. Damaso Marte struck out 1 in 2/3 of an inning while Sergio Mitre worked the final two innings and allowed four runs on four hits.
Mike Lowell had three hits to lead the Red Sox and added 2 RBIs on a home run. David Ortiz had 2 hits and knocked in two while Dustin Pedroia also had two hits and an RBI. Jason Varitek chipped in with a meaningless solo homer in the 9th and Victor Martinez had an RBI. Rocco Baldelli came off the bench and added an RBI as Terry Francona began to empty the bench in the 5th.
Jacoby Ellsbury had a hit and knocked in two. He also stole his 54th base of the season and he is now tied at the top of the Red Sox record books with Tommy Harper.
All I will say is that it’s time for Penny to go. With Wakefield pitching well for Pawtucket on Friday night, it could very well be that he’ll replace Penny and not someone else.
The Red Sox will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon with young Japanese rookie Junichi Tazawa. He’ll be opposed by A.J. Burnett.
