The Revenge Of The Sox

Daisuke Matsuzaka did what Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett did before him, just enough to win.

The bullpen did just enough to get it to the ninth and Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door shut to complete the sweep of the Bronx Bombers 7-6 Sunday night at Fenway Park.

It marked the first series sweep over the Yankees at Fenway in 17 seasons.

The Red Sox scored all their runs with the long ball and the Yankees starter Chase Wright only lasted three innings.

In the third inning Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek all went deep in consecutive at bats, it was the 10th time in Major League history that's been accomplished and the first since last September when Drew and the Dodgers accomplished it.

Dustin Pedroia, who I have nicknamed dPod made a spectacular stab of a low line drive to preserve the lead in the eighth collected two hits in four plate appearances.

Matsuzaka wasn't spectacular but wasn't horrible either, he walked a batter and hit two others and gave up some soft line drive hits. He allowed a career high six runs and struck out seven including Alex Rodriguez twice. He came out in the eighth to pitch to Rodriguez but surrendered a lead off soft line drive single to Rodriguez who extended his hit streak to 22 games with the hit.

Matsuzaka got the fans cheering as he hit Alex Rodriguez in the first. He tipped his cap to A-Rod to show it wasn't intentional. Matsuzaka would later plunk Jeter.

The Sox bullpen continues to be one of the best in the American League pitching 2 scoreless innings. The Sox collected saves in four consecutive games.

Lowell added a 3-run homer in the seventh as the game winning runs.

Manny Ramirez may have finally found his stroke going 3-5 with the home run.

Boston welcomes Toronto to town tomorrow for a brief two game series followed by the Orioles for two, then its off to New York next weekend.