After ending the Royals series on a high note, taking the second two games of four for a split, the Sox march into Yankee Stadium 2.0 in a position to possibly put the Rangers away for the season (if the Rays do their part) and clinch a playoff spot for the sixth time in seven seasons since Theo Epstein took over as GM. The Magic Number is at 3 with 10 games to go. If the Sox win tonight and the Rangers lose, the number goes down to 1. This means that tomorrow, EITHER a Red Sox win or a Rangers loss will seal the deal.
Matchup-wise, tonight's game is the one that most favors the Red Sox, with a well-rested Jon Lester facing beleaguered Yankee starter Joba (the Hutt) Chamberlain. Tomorrow, Dice-K has the unenviable task of pitching against Big C.C. If Dice-K performs like he did in the Angels' series, the Sox have a chance, provided they can get to C.C. even just a little. If we're in for a 5-inning deal, having to rely on a recently yippy bullpen, that could be trouble. Sunday's matchup heavily favors the Yanks, with Paul Byrd facing Andy Pettitte. I'm hoping the Sox take at the very least one of the three games, preferably two. A Sox sweep of the Yanks would be fantastic, but I'm not counting on it. The Yanks are still playing great ball, as they have been all of the second half, but now the Sox are playing great ball too. These aren't the same Red Sox who came staggering into The Stadium in early August.
Props to Buch for another outstanding pitching performance last night in KC. He may have been under the weather, but that did not show at all on the mound. 6.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R 0 BB 8 K!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
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