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Farewell Tour Part II
August 28, 2008
The curtain is now two thirds of the way closed on the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry at Yankee Stadium and so far on this Farewell Tour, it's been all Boston. The Red Sox poured on an offensive attack even more impressive than the seven run, fourteen hit attack they unleashed in game one. They may have had one hit less in game two but they were a whole four runs better thanks to the first career grand slam off the bat of Dustin Pedroia. The grand slam was Pedroia's fifteenth home run of the season to conclude yet another three-hit night for the Red Sox second baseman.
Even with Pedroia hitting the grand slam, Jason Bay also was a big part in leading the way in this run scoring parade. Jason Bay was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple to go along with his four runs batted in. At the time, his four RBIs were the most crucial runs of the game before the Red Sox offense really broke things open. Jacoby Ellsbury was a great table setter for the big sticks with two hits and two runs scored from the lead off spot.
This game was at one point a save situation for the Red Sox having just a 4-2 lead going into the top of the eighth inning, but the Sox figured they'd give Jonathan Papelbon the night off with a seven-run eighth inning. The whole lineup contributed to the opening of the flood gates against the Yankees in the eighth inning which ultimately sank the Bombers for the second straight game.
Paul Byrd pitched a solid six inning of work to pick up his first career victory in Yankee Stadium. Byrd threw 106 pitches over his six innings of work giving up just two earned runs on five hits while striking out five. For the first time since coming to Boston, Paul Byrd made a start without giving up a home run.
Boston will go for a three game sweep in the Bronx in hopes of slamming the door on Yankee Stadium and leaving the Yankees themselves in the dust. The Yankees desperately needed to win at least two if not all three of these games to stay in contention for the postseason but now they look to just win one. Hank's Yanks are seven games back of the Red Sox in the Wild Card and 10.5 games back of the Rays with 30 games to go, including today's game.
-Jared Carrabis
-Jared Carrabis
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