Red Sox Take Over First Place

By Erik Pesta
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Despite dropping two out of three games to the Mets over the weekend, Boston is the new leader of the American League East. Thanks are in order for the Atlanta Braves, who swept their three game series with the Blue Jays, putting Toronto a half-game back in the standings following their sixth consecutive loss. The New York Yankees are just one game back at 25-19, and Tampa finds themselves four games out to start the day. Baltimore brings up the rear, a distant eight games behind the division leading Red Sox, a place they will probably find themselves for the remainder of the year. Which ever team emerges as the division champ will certainly be battle tested and ready for post season play. The final four months of the season promise to be very tight, and every series has the potential to make or break any of the four teams in contention for the crown.

Tim Wakefield was just good enough to win yesterday, allowing five earned runs in six innings pitched, while walking four and striking out three. Boston put crooked numbers on the board in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, to break what had been a very close game wide open. The Sox got a pair of three-run homers, one each from Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis in the second and seventh innings, respectively. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled in the second inning, to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. David Ortiz was the only starter not to have a hit in the contest. Papi was 0-for-5, struck out twice and stranded eight runners. Rumors are starting to swirl that Red Sox brass is looking into trading for a bat, to help pick up the considerable slack being left by Ortiz in the middle of an otherwise potent lineup.

Today, the Sox are in Minnesota to take on the Twins and former American League MVP Justin Morneau, whose grand slam led to a sweep of the Brewers over the weekend. Brad Penny (4-1, 6.07 ERA) takes on former phenom Francisco Liriano (2-5, 6.04 ERA). The hard throwing lefty is tied for the league lead in losses, but certainly has the talent to spin a gem any time he takes the mound. First pitch is at 2:10 from the Metrodome.