Big Blasts Bust Bombers Bullpen

Robust rigthy, Jason Bay, sent a two-run Mariano Rivera pitch deep into the Fenway stands to clear the Green Monster and tie the game in the ninth inning as Boston went on to beat the Yankees in extra innings. A Kevin Youkillis solo sendoff lifted the Red Sox 5-4 in the bottom of the 11th. Youkillis’ homerun came off New York reliever, Damaso Marte. Friday’s Fenway flick was Kevin’s fifth homerun of the year, and the team’s eighth consecutive victory.
Rivera came into the game in the eighth inning with two outs and two on. He struck out Dustin Pedroia to end the threat. The Yankees loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with an opportunity to increase their two run lead, but failed to score. Rivera was one out away from closing the game, but bafflingly blew the save in the Boston ninth. The usually light-out closer was pressed in serving up the Bay blast that evened the score at four. Mo has an amazing arm, but he is only human. Not surprisingly, the storied rivals found themselves in extended innings. Red Sox closer, Jonathan Papelbon succeeded in stranding two Yankees in the top of the 10th and reliever, Ramon Ramirez got out of an 11th inning jam with runners on first and second. Marte managed the mound in the 11th as Youkillis mangled a monster walkoff on his 2-2 pitch.
Jon Lester pitched six innings for the Red Sox and Joba Chamberlain threw 5 1/3. Joba walked four batters and gave up nine hits and one earned run. Lester allowed two runs and fanned seven Bombers.
The Yankee bullpen was tested but held the lead, even without the injured Brian Bruney. Phil Coke and Jonathan Albaladejo each did their job, working their way through a peevish and potent Boston lineup of patient hitters. The definitive defense kept it a game for Boston, as they squandered several Yankee shots. The game came down to situational hitting in crunch time and the team whose bullpen made the fewest mistakes.