Monday, August 21, 2006
How Sweep It Is
Before this weekend, the Yankees had swept the Red Sox in a five-game series at Fenway Park just twice in their history, doing so in 1927 and 1943. They won the World Series in both of those years.
New York accomplished the rare five-game sweep again on Monday, but the Yanks will have to wait another couple of months before they can try adding another title to the franchise's total of 26 World Series titles.
The Yankees closed out the improbable weekend with a 2-1 win over the Red Sox, as Cory Lidle tossed six innings of shutout ball and four relievers combined to close out the final three innings.
The sweep put some serious distance between the two rivals, as the Yankees boosted their lead over the Red Sox in the American League East from 1 1/2 games to 6 1/2 games since Friday.
The Yankees last swept the Red Sox in a five-game set in September 1951 at Yankee Stadium. The previous two five-game sweeps in Boston came in June 1927 and September 1943.
David Wells cruised through the first three innings, his only hiccup coming in the second when Robinson Cano doubled with one out.
Lidle matched him zero for zero, though the Red Sox mounted a two-out threat in the first after David Ortiz singled and Manny Ramirez walked. Lidle got Eric Hinske to ground out, stranding the runners.
The Yankees put runners at first and second to open the fourth, but Alex Rodriguez grounded into a double play and Cano grounded out, killing the rally.
Lidle flirted with trouble in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with a pair of two-out walks. Javy Lopez missed his chance to give Boston the lead, grounding out to end the frame.
New York finally broke through against Wells in the sixth, using a one-out single by Melky Cabrera, a stolen base and a two-out double by Abreu to take a 1-0 lead.
Lidle posted another zero in the bottom of the sixth, overcoming a dropped popup by Nick Green to hold the one-run lead and turn the game over to the bullpen.
Octavio Dotel started the seventh, but he was lifted after giving up a one-out single to Mark Loretta. Mike Myers came in and struck out Ortiz, then Scott Proctor retired Gabe Kapler to finish the inning.
New York tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, as Green doubled off Wells, moved to third on a sac bunt by Cabrera, then scored on a Keith Foulke wild pitch.
Wily Mo Pena cut the lead in half with a solo shot off Proctor in the eighth, but Kyle Farnsworth closed it out with a scoreless ninth, earning his second save of the season.
Posted by Steve Kenul at 5:11 PM
Erin posted at 10:53 PM
Blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah.... thats all I hear...
signed - a disgruntled loyal Red Sox Fan for 32 years.
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