After some ugly games on Friday and Saturday, Sunday could be a little different, as Josh Beckett and CC Sabathia take the hill.
Thanks for following along and we'll see you back on Sunday night.
7:26 p.m.: Jacoby Ellsbury's had an awful day at the plate but makes up for it by robbing Teixeira on a liner to the right-center field gap. Kind of rude.
7:21 p.m.: Kenny Albert got really excited about that Jerry Hairston single. I mean, really excited.
It's 14-1 in the ninth, pal. Let's tone it down a level.
End 8th, 14-1 Red Sox: The Sox add a couple runs on back-to-back-to-back doubles by Pedroia, Casey Kotchman and Youkilis off David Robertson.
Three outs left.
7:17 p.m.: One more? OK. Let's stop soon, though. I think the 13-run cushion will hold in the ninth.
7:14 p.m.: Another run? Sure.
Middle 8th, 12-1 Red Sox: Some guy named Enrique Gonzalez gets out of the eighth inning. Can I pitch the ninth, Tito?
7 p.m.: If Joe Buck was in the booth, he'd no doubt say "7 o'clock straight up in the East."
Just filling in, because, well, it must be important. Right?
End 7th, 12-1 Red Sox: Quick 1-2-3 inning, as this game threatens to end in less than four hours.
6:52 p.m.: Tim McCarver astutely notes that an infielder's glove is a "different shape" than a catcher's mitt. I honestly don't know where we'd be without this guy.
6:50 p.m.: I understand it's 12-1, and a bunt would all but guarantee a pitch between the "2" and "0" sewn onto Youkilis' back … but with Jose Molina standing at third base … could we … just … maybe … please?
Middle 7th, 12-1 Red Sox: Bard gives up a solo shot to Swisher and a single to Mark Teixeira (first Teixeira mention comes seven innings into the game?) but avoids further damage.
You don't like to see the kid give up another run, but at this point, the pitchers can just get their work in and hit the showers. The Yankees are familiar with the process.
6:43 p.m.: Oh, so that's what it looks like when the Yankees score a run. I almost forgot. Except not really.
6:40 p.m.: Daniel Bard enters the game. He's had a rough go as of late, giving up seven runs in August.
The good news is that he hasn't looked terrible, he's just looked a touch off. It could be that his 24-year-old frame is getting a little tired at the end of the summer.
If the Sox can use him a couple times a week and save him for October, it might be best.
End 6th, 12-0 Red Sox: The Yanks bring in Alfredo Aceves, who gets two quick outs but gives up a double to Pedroia, an RBI single to Martinez and a two-run bomb to Youkilis.
6:33 p.m.: The batter's circle has turned into the sick ward, as Ortiz wreaks havoc with his bat in a not-so-fun way. Fortunately he (foul off shin) and Posada (bat to the noggin) are able to stay in the game.
The difference, of course, is that Ortiz can go sit down for about an hour while Posada has to squat behind the plate until about 7:30.
6:29 p.m.: Good golly. There are a lot of runs being scored right now. In the past 15 innings, the Sox have scored 23 runs. Nice catch by that mother up on the Monster, too.
6:20 p.m.: What an outing from Tazawa:
6 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 2 BBs, 2 K's
He was born in June of 1986, by the way. His ERA is down from 5.40 to 3.57.
Mid 6th, 9-0 Red Sox: I'm speechless. Tazawa induces a 4-6-3 double play, and I'm not getting some barbecue sauce ready to put on my keyboard. It's dinner time.
6:17 p.m.: If Tazawa gets out of this one unscathed, I will eat my keyboard.
End 5th, 9-0 Red Sox: The Sox get a pair of runs on an Ortiz home run and back-to-back doubles from Bay and Drew. Burnett allows nine runs in five innings. Some quick math … and his Fenway ERA is at 14.21 this season. Based on his reaction to Ortiz's homer, playing in Boston might have a pretty strong effect on his head.
6:05 p.m.: That's eight straight seasons with at least 20 home runs. He's now just three shy of tying Frank Thomas for the most by a DH in history (269).
6:03 p.m.: No. 20 for Grande Dad.
Burnett talks to himself, wondering why he gave up another meatball. Then Posada bounces another ball on his throw to the mound. This game is fun.
5:59 p.m.: In case you're wondering why Joe Buck isn't present, you can thank Jerry Jones for choosing Friday night to open his new bajillion-dollar stadium. Buck was in the broadcast booth for the meaningless preseason game, giving Red Sox and Yankees fans a break on this beautiful Saturday afternoon.
End 5th, 7-0 Red Sox: Tazawa's shown a fastball, a curveball and an unreal ability to walk the tightrope. He leaves another pair of runners on base (that's eight for the day) as the Yankees once again fail to score.
5:44 p.m.: Tim McCarver says, "The most important thing that Derek Jeter brings to the table is his willingness to play every day."
I politely disagree. I think the most important thing that Derek Jeter brings to the table is his mid-'90s fade that he's never felt the need to change. When your captain brings that kind of consistency, it's hard to quantify.
That's not to say that 'Tek's Supercuts special isn't worthy of mention.
5:42 p.m.: Losing faith in the Red Sox? Sean Casey isn't.
End 4th, 7-0 Red Sox: Another quick one for Burnett, as the Sox go down in order. I've got a funny feeling that seven runs may not be enough to win. How long can Tazawa really jump through hoops?
Middle 4th, 7-0 Red Sox: Not bad, Mr. Tazawa. Not bad at all.
The 23-year-old gets out of another two-on, one-out jam, striking out Hinske (the game's MVP so far) and inducing a tapper from Melky Carbera.
His pitch count's up there at 61, but he's stranded three runners at third base thus far.
5:26 p.m.: Just came across this story in the New York Post. Joel Sherman surveyed seven MLB executives, asking them if they could take either Pedroia or Cano for the next five years, who would it be?
The answer was unanimous: they'd all take the scrappy No. 15.
The reason isn't necessarily talent, either.
"Pedroia has better makeup and gives his all every day," an NL executive told Sherman. "On natural ability, Cano tops the list. But Pedroia is a winner and a leader."
End 3rd, 7-0 Red Sox: Burnett strikes out Bay, Drew and Varitek on low curveballs. They all looked pretty bad. Maybe Burnett's warmed up now after throwing 63 pitches.
5:21 p.m.: Dear Fox,
There was an appeal on J.D. Drew's swing. He was called out. Some of us would like to see this, rather than hear a story about the good old days from McCarver. Thanks.
Middle 3rd, 7-0 Red Sox: Tazawa gives A-Rod curveball after curveball, finally getting him on the fourth of a six-pitch at-bat to get him looking at strike three.
With that, the Red Sox keep the Yankees from scoring for three straight innings — a seemingly small task but one they could not accomplish Friday evening.
5:12 p.m.: The fans got a kick out of A-Rod's dramatic flair as he dodged a pitch that went right over the plate.
5:09 p.m.: In case you missed it, Carl Yastrzemski turns 70 years old today. In honor of the special day, spell his name 10 times fast.
End 2nd, 7-0 Red Sox: The Red Sox are pretty dangerous when they can hit the longball.
Gonzalez goes deep with nobody on and one out before Youkilis homers over the Monster with Pedroia (four-pitch walk) and Martinez (four-pitch walk) on base.
Burnett's at 49 pitches, and it doesn't look like his 12.91 ERA at Fenway this season is going to get any better.
5:02 p.m.: Apparently, Jorge Posada went to the mound to talk to Burnett just to tell him, "Give Youk a meatball on this 2-2 count. Let's see if he can actually get it over the Monster seats."
4:59 p.m.: A.J. Burnett has thrown approximately 346 pitches. Glad to see the teams are maintaining Friday night's pace.
4:54 p.m.: "He's got a great glove, but he's got no bat."
That's all you ever hear about Alex Gonzalez. He disagrees.
4:52 p.m.: How's this for a solution to the whole lineup situation: When Josh Beckett starts, let him hit, and put Mike Lowell in as Varitek's designated hitter? Is it allowed? Well, no. But still.
4:52 p.m.: I said it was nice to see Varitek behind the plate. As far as at the plate, well …
Mid 2nd, 3-0 Red Sox: That's two straight innings in which the Yankees haven't scored. That happened a grand total of one time Friday night. If Tazawa can keep them off the board in the third, there may be a small ceremony by the dugout.
4:44 p.m.: As is always the case with a Tim McCarver game, you have to wonder what game he's watching. After Dustin Pedroia rather obviously took some sort of blow to the face while tagging out Robinson Cano, the trainer and Terry Francona went out to check on him. McCarver wondered if something was in his eye.
It's hard to make the simple act of watching a baseball game difficult to enjoy, but McCarver just has a magical way with words.
4:41 p.m.: Can't say I thought I'd be saying this, but it's nice to see Jason Varitek behind the plate again. Victor Martinez said on WEEI yesterday that playing first base gives him a physical and mental break. He then went on to miss about four pitches in the Game That Must Not Be Named.
Here's hoping he gets the mental rest he needs today over at the less-than-hot corner.
End 1st, 3-0 Red Sox: The Red Sox give Burnett a rough welcome back to Fenway, touching him for three runs on RBI hits from David Ortiz and Jason Bay. It takes Burnett 24 pitches to get out of the first.
4:31 p.m.: Eric Hinske has seen his fair share of games at Fenway Park, playing for the Blue Jays, Red Sox and now Yankees. Apparently, he's unaware that the wall in left field is 37 feet tall and causes funny bounces.
Mid 1st: Hey, Brad Penny, were you taking notes? Junichi Tazawa worked out of a two-on, one-out jam by getting his nemesis A-Rod to fly out to center and Hideki Matsui to fly out to left. If the Sox can manage a few more innings in which the Yankees don't score five or six runs, they have a real shot to win this thing.
4:12 p.m.: Quite a change of pace this afternoon. After Jerry Remy's return last night, you'll now be treated to the pleasant sounds of Kenny Albert and Tim McCarver!
4:05 p.m.: Your very, very unofficial NESN.com weather forecast predicts a few raindrops to find their way into Fenway Park this afternoon. Looking at the radar, I'd say a delay is unlikely. Though it is New England, so, of course, anything is possible.
4:02 p.m.: Johnny Damon will sit this one out after taking a foul ball directly off the knee. Damon's only 35 years old, but his body's taken enough beatings for three lifetimes.
1:32 p.m.: Red Sox lineups are in. No big surprises here — we all knew Jason Varitek was due to make his valiant return from neck spasms today, so there he is as catcher. As expected, Mike Lowell is the odd man out today. Kevin Youkilis is at third, V-Mart is at first.
9:05 a.m.: So, about last night …
The Red Sox were embarrassed Friday night by the Yankees in what was by far the worst game of the year in Fenway Park and maybe the worst since Oct. 16, 2004 (does 19-8 ring a bell?).
The Sox, of course, won that next game and never lost again on the way to a World Series title. With Junichi Tazawa on the hill on Saturday, Sox fans would be happy to just not get blown out again.
Getting the start for the Yankees will be A.J. Burnett, who until this season was a Red Sox killer. This year, however, he's 0-1 with a 6.46 ERA against Boston. His ERA is even worse at Fenway Park, standing at 12.91.
