Alex Cora’s hot bat and two run homer in the fifth inning propelled the Red Sox past the reeling Yankees on Sunday afternoon by the final score of 7-3. Cora also had a RBI groundout in the third inning.
Julian Tavarez pitched ok for the Red Sox today. He actually breezed through the first two innings but ran into trouble in the third inning. He walked Hip hip Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano to lead off the inning. . The light hitting Doug Mientkiewicz was at the plate with the intentions of laying down a bunt but a passed ball by Jason Varitek allowed the runners to move up one base. Mientkiewicz then proceeded to hit a three run homer to give the Yankees their lead.
Big Papi had gotten the Sox on the board first with a monster home run to the upper deck in right field. Then Cora’s two run homer in the fifth inning gave them the lead for good. Cora then hit a triple in the seventh inning and was brought home on a Julio Lugo sacrifice fly. Manny closed out the scoring for the Sox with a bomb in the eighth inning.
The bullpen was again solid for the Red Sox today. The only blemish came when Mike Timlin gave up a home run to Derek Jeter. Jonathan Papelbon came into finish the game off in the 9th to remain perfect in April save chances in his career.
I would have to think that we will see Tavarez back in the pen very soon with his struggles again today. Even though he got the win, he wasn’t that good. The plan is for Jon Lester to make a start for Pawtucket on Wednesday but I have to wonder if maybe the Red Sox recall him from his rehabilitation assignment and have him take Tavarez’s spot in the rotation.
I guess the even bigger question that comes out of this series is how long Joe Torre will have his job in New York. I really don’t think that the blame can be placed solely on him. As I said yesterday, I really think GM Brian Cashman is at-fault for this. He is the one who assembled the rotation without any one to support them if an injury or two happened. The Red Sox ,on the other hand, have Lester, Kyle Snyder and Devern Hansack who can fill in if an injury takes place.
Notes: Mike Lowell’s hitting streak ended at 14 games after his 0-for in the game. Manny hit his 50th career home run against the Yankees becoming the 5th player to do so.
