April 24, 2004

Red Sox 3, Yankees 2 (12 innings). I was at work and had to follow along via MLB and SoSH, but it was still quite a nailbiter. The media has referred to these games as "October in April" and today's battle was certainly worthy of the hype. I look forward to watching the tape on Monday. ... So many wasted opportunities and blown chances in the late innings for both teams. Boston left a man on 3rd in the 9th, a man of second in the 10th and the bases loaded in the 11th. New York left two on in the 9th and the bases loaded in the 10th.

Boston went 0-19 with runners at second or third and scored all three runs on sacrifice flies to center. The last one was hit by Mark Bellhorn and scored Manny Ramirez, who had opened the 12th with a double to deep center. Recaps here and here. ... Bronson Arroyo allowed only 1 hit (a solo Rodriguez home run) through six innings. He faltered at the start of the seventh, but the bullpen of Scott Williamson, Alan Embree, Keith Foulke and Mike Timlin threw six no-hit innings. The pen has not allowed a run in its last 22.2 innings.

The final out of the game was made by Derek Jeter, who has zero hits in his last 21 at-bats and last 23 plate appearances. His average has dropped to .184 (Pokey's hitting .216). Yankee blogger Larry Mahnken writes that perhaps "Jeter is trying to lower his regular season rate statistics to make his postseason stats look more clutch."

Pedro/Vazquez at 1:05 pm tomorrow.

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