Red Sox Wake Up, Take First Place From Yankees (35-26)

Last night, the Red Sox put themselves in sole possession of first place with an 11-6 win over the Yankees. With Jacoby Ellsbury on third with 1 out in the 1st inning, Adrian Gonzalez groundout put the Sox up 1-0. However, it dramatically changed once again on a stroke by David Ortiz as his 15th homer was good enough to put the Sox up 3-0. In the 2nd inning, Marco Scutaro came around to score on a sacrifice fly by J.D. Drew. With the bases loaded in the 4th, Jason Varitek grounded out to second, but he just escaped the double play to make it 5-0. Jacoby Ellsbury promptly delivered with a double to make it 6-0 before a Dustin Pedroia single made it 7-0. In the bottom of the 4th, the Yankees got on the board with a solo home run by Alex Rodriguez. In the 5th, a Francisco Cervelli single to score Eduardo Nunez made it 7-2 Red Sox. Then a long double to center field by Derek Jeter made it 7-3. Later in the inning, Jeter came in on a sacrifice fly by Mark Teixeira to cut the score to 7-4 in the 5th. With the bases loaded in the 6th, Adrian Gonzalez walked, and a run came in to make it 8-4. In the bottom of the 6th, Francisco Cervelli singled through the left side, scoring Robinson Cano and making it 8-5. In the 9th, a solo home run by Carl Crawford and a 2-run shot from J.D. Drew made it 11-5 late. The Yankees cut it a little when Mark Teixeira singled in Francisco Cervelli to make it 11-6 but that was it.

Tim Wakefield (top right) was not too sharp, allowing 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings. However, he earned the win, and is now 3-1/4.84/23 this year. Alfredo Aceves earned a save with 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing just 1 run, as he has been a great acquisition this year. Jacoby Ellsbury had a good game, going 3-5, scoring a run and having an RBI. Dustin Pedroia went 1-3 with an RBI and 2 walks. David Ortiz (left) went 1-4 with 2 runs scored and that 2-run homer, as he is now .323/15/34. Carl Crawford went 2-5 with 2 runs scored and that solo home run, as he is now .247/6/30. Marco Scutaro had a very good game, going 2-5 with 2 runs scored. J.D. Drew went 1-3 with 3 RBIs and that 2-run homer, he is now .229/4/15 this year. The series finale tonight will be good, as Josh Beckett (4-2/2.01/67) and C.C. Sabathia (7-3/2.80/70) will go head to head.

Bright Spots:

Alfredo Aceves- the save with 3 2/3 innings of one-run relief

Jacoby Ellsbury- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Dustin Pedroia- 1-3 with an RBI

David Ortiz- 1-4 with 2 runs scored and a 2-run homer

Carl Crawford- 2-5 with 2 runs and a solo shot

Marco Scutaro- 2-5 with 2 runs scored

J.D. Drew- 1-3 with a run and 3 RBIs on the 2-run homer

Dull Spots:

Tim Wakefield- he earned the win despite 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings

Well, we are in first place now, finally, living up to expectations.