Uff-da

Yankees 7, Sox 5.

I think the following line from today’s Boston Globe just about sums it up:

After going 12 for 22 (.545) with runners in scoring position the previous three nights, [the Sox] went 3 for 15 (.200), leaving runners on second and/or third in the first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

Tim Wakefield struck out five, but gave up five walks and a three-run homer to A-Rod. But the A-Rod homer was almost (ALMOST) worth it, because Rodriguez lost the ball in the lights.

Where is it?

Up there?

Dur!

He should take some pointers from Manny Ramirez, who pimped his own three-run homer in trademark Manny-being-Manny style:

Note the flipped bat, airborne behind him, and the graceful extension of the arms. The torso is slightly twisted, while the right leg reaches back in an entendu position. Ramirez’s head is cocked slightly as he stands patiently in the batter’s box, admiring his handiwork.

Manny then completed the movement by dropping his arms with a free, swinging motion, watching the ball deposit itself in the stands, and beginning a slow pas-de-chat around the bases. Note the expressive extension of the index fingers as he glissades past the dugout:

See, A-Rod. That’s how it’s done.

Tonight: Matt Clement goes up against Randy Johnson. Last time Clement was scheduled to pitch against New York, Sox skipper Terry Francona futzed with the rotation. Last time Johnson took on the Sox, he gave up 7 earned runs and couldn’t get out of the 3rd inning. Clement is 4-3 with a 4.17 ERA, while Johnson is 1-3 with an ERA of 4.94.

Barring a vintage performance by the Unit, I predict that tonight will be a whose-bullpen-sucks-less smashfest.

And I have tickets! Wahahaha.