[EmpireWF]

Boston will start this big-time series just 1.5 games out of first place behind the New York Yankees. This should go along way in determing the favorite down the stretch of the season.

Game one starts tomorrow afternoon and Game two, tomorrow evening in a day-night doubleheader.

Johnson vs. Wang and Lester vs. Ponson are the starters tomorrow.

[MJHMarc]

Go Yankees!

Johnson and Ponson better earn their salaries once and for all. This is the time that it counts! I know that Ponson spent some time with the Orioles, so he might not be used to winning games when he needs to, but if he remains in pinstripes he must learn sometime.

Thanks for the series preview, EmpireWF.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

Go Yankees!

i think the pitching match-ups look real good all around here

if the Sox Johnson doesnt have a melt down and Wells can stay sharp i think it should be a great series

and we all know both teams have the bats to do the damage and score at any moment

best i can see happening is the standings flip by monday

[legend]

The Red Sox will bomb Ponson, he has nothing and is lucky to be in a major league uniform. Actually, h is lucky the Yankees even have one that fits him. New York needs to win the afternoon match-up, because the night game will be a 12-9 affair.

[ThePundit]

This is great! This is what baseball is all about.

[EmpireWF]

Yanks take the first game and one they should have since the pitching match-up favored them. Now it's time for Boston to pick up their slack and win a few games or the AL East could become a one man race.

[MJHMarc]

Here is a SPORTS FLASH, presented by MJHMarc.

The Yankees won the first game of the series, 12-4, powered by Johnny Damon. Damon batted .500 with a triple and a homer totaling 4 RBIs. Wang shined as he only allowed 3 ERs in 6 innings of work. On the other side of the field, David Ortiz, went out silently with an 0-4 day at home. Manny Ramirez smashed his 33rd homerun of the season and also added his 94th RBI. Johnson recieved the loss for giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Yankees seemed powerful in this game but we will have to see how well they perform in the second of this exciting doubleheader.

Yankees-5
Boston-4
[TOP OF 4TH]
NYYamon By the Game> 3-3, 3 RBIs, 1 R
BOS:Ramirez By the Game> 2-2, 1 RBI, 1 R

Note: Damon is looking great today in both games.

[simple simon]

well so far so good in the 2nd game, 10-7 Sox in the 5th

(id rather not discuss the 1st game )

[legend]

I was wrong that Game Two would be a 12-9 affair, as it wound up at 14-11. I asked a couple weeks ago if Red Sox fans were nervous about this bullpen. Timlin has been awful lately, Hansen isn't much better. The appeal of Jon Lester escapes me. He does not throw strikes and looks like he is afraid to challenge hitters.
For the Yankees. Ponson pitched like I expected, terrible. How far and fast has he fallen. Mark Loretta hits about .240 against the rest of baseball, but hits .800 against New York.

[ThePundit]

That second game set a 9 inning record. It was almost 5 hours long. As much as I love watching Yanks-Red Sox, that game was painful. They really need to cut out a couple of teams out of MLB. Pitching is just too thin. How about Tampa, Colorado and Florida?

[mervinout]

Originally Posted by simple simon

well so far so good in the 2nd game, 10-7 Sox in the 5th

(id rather not discuss the 1st game )

wanna discuss game 2

[ThePundit]

This is like an arc softball series. It's also shaping up to be just like the 1978 Boston Massacre.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by mervinout

wanna discuss game 2

not really

nor would i like to discuss game 3

[EmpireWF]

Wow, talk about a complete meltdown. Boston NEEDS to win both games tomorrow and Monday to at least have a realistic shot. Winning one game would keep them 4.5 games out of first. I don't see a situation where the Yanks just lost control in September.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I don't see a situation where the Yanks just lost control in September.

i dont either, especially with matsui and sheffield coming back