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Rock bottom. Yankees sweep.

It's over. Red Sox fans can exhale, because the worst four days of baseball in recent memory have ended. The Yankees completed a five-game sweep with a 2-1 victory at Fenway Park today over the punchless Red Sox.

David Wells pitched 7.1 strong innings today, but the offense brought nothing to the table, going hitless with runners in scoring position. If not for Wily Mo Pena's two-out, eighth-inning home run, they would have been shutout by New York's combination of Cory Lidle, Mike Myers, Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth.

In the ninth inning, Coco Crisp, who was atrocious in this series, swung and came nowhere near a third strike pitch from Farnsworth for the second out. Then Mark Loretta, one of the few who played well this weekend, lined out to Robinson Cano for the final out, leaving David Ortiz on deck. Not that it would have mattered; with Gabe Kapler on deck subbing for the nicked-up Manny Ramirez, Ortiz surely would have been intentionally walked for the 0-for-his-last-29 Kapler.

The final tally for this series: Yankees 49, Red Sox 26. More importantly, the Sox are just about buried in the A.L. East, 6 1/2 games out in the standings.

And we look to next month's four-game series in the Bronx with nothing approaching anticipation.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments 6

Wells leaves to standing ovation

At least one member of the Red Sox has showed life today: pitcher David Wells. He was just removed from the game in the eigth inning, and walked off to a standing ovation.

Wells left the game with one out in the eigth and Nick Green standing on third base (Green doubled and reached third on a sacrifice). Keith Foulke entered the game and promptly threw a wild pitch to the first batter he faced, Derek Jeter, to let in the run. Wells just shook his head in the dugout. Somewhat ironically, Fouke went on to strike out Jeter and Bobby Abreu to end the inning.

The final line on Wells: 7.1 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 4 K, 1 BB. He stands to lose the game, through no fault of his own.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:50 PM | Permalink

Ramirez removed from lineup; hamstring problem cited

Manny Ramirez has been removed from today's ballgame against the Yankees; according to the radio broadcast, he has a hamstring cramp.

Ramirez, who has been red-hot as of late, walked in two plate appearances before leaving the game. Gabe Kapler entered the game and is batting in Ramirez's cleanup spot.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:07 PM | Permalink

Hansen sent to minors

The Red Sox today optioned right-handed reliever Craig Hansen to Triple-A Pawtucket and called up yet another righty reliever, Bryan Corey.

Hansen was the losing pitcher in last night's 10-inning, 8-5 Yankee win. Hansen, who has struggled mightily lately, is 1-1 with a 6.60 E.R.A. since being called up in the spring.

Corey, is 1-1 with a 2.95 E.R.A. with the PawSox.

The Red Sox today do not have Kevin Youkilis in the starting lineup; he hurt his hand trying to field a wild pickoff throw from Curt Schilling last night. Eric Hinske is playing first base in his place.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are keeping Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada. They'll have Bernie Williams in center, Craig Wilson at first and Sal Fasano catching. Derek Jeter is in at designated hitter, with Nick Green starting at shortstop.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments 3