Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Normally when the Yankees come to town in September it usually means something.

Not this year.

New York will not play in October for the first time in 13 seasons, while the Red Sox are preparing for their fifth trip to the postseason in the last six years. There were empty seats at Fenway Park last night due to the inclement weather, which forced a 1:31 delay.

Because of the tropical depression in the region, the game was also suspended for 38 minutes in the top of the fifth inning.

There were many lineup changes before and during the game that ended with the Yankees pounding the Red Sox, 19-8.

With Boston's loss, Tampa clinches the A.L. East for its first division title in club history. The Red Sox will face the Angels in the ALDS, beginning on Wednesday in Anaheim. Game Two of that series will be played on Friday in California, with Games Three and Four at Fenway on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday will be an off-day if a Game Five is needed back in Anaheim on Wednesday.

"It was one of those things where we had to win three and Tampa had to lose three," said Red Sox' Sean Casey referring to the division title hopes. "It was a long shot. The most important thing is to just get in."

"The important thing for us is to get our house in order and be healthy," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "We'll try to get as ready as we can be moving forward."

Daisuke Matsuzaka was last night's scheduled starter for Boston, but was scratched because of the wet conditions. Instead, David Pauley made the start. The right-hander lasted only 2 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Pauley made his major-league debut for the Red Sox in 2006 and made three starts that season. He did not get called up in 2007 and had made one spot start this season prior to last night. In 28 1/3 innings of work for Boston, he's allowed 54 hits.

Matsuzaka will start - weather permitting - Saturday in Game Two of this season-ending series with the Yankees. Tim Wakefield will pitch on Sunday. That leaves ace Josh Beckett well rested for Game One of the ALDS.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was slated to start at first base Friday night with Mike Lowell serving as the club's DH. Ortiz didn't play and Lowell was removed from the game after one at-bat for precautionary reasons. He's been battling a right-hip flexor and will be evaluated on Saturday, but he didn't seem too upbeat about his playing availability the rest of the season.

"He's sore," said Francona. "That was certainly discouraging for us tonight. He's certainly not ready to pull the plug, or quit trying to play. We're on board with him."

It wasn't a total wash out for some of the Red Sox players Friday night.

Because of all the lineup changes, and manager Terry Francona wanting to rest some of the starters, Gil Velazquez started at second for Dustin Pedroia and recorded his first major-league hit with a RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning.

He wasn't alone.

Rookie catcher George Kottaras, another September callup, replaced Kevin Cash in the top of the fifth inning and recorded his first major-league hit, too. He lined a double into the left-field corner.

In a pretty cool gesture, Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi went out of his way to retrieve both balls for Velazquez and Kottaras as the traditional keepsakes.

Since the A.L. East has finally been decided it's very possible the next two games of this series could resemble the PawSox versus the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre Yankees instead of what fans at Fenway Park are accustomed to in September.

 Tags  Red Sox

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