July 25, 2008. BOSTON, MA -- The Red Sox dropped a tough one to the Yankees last night 1-0 in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel between Josh Beckett and Joba Chamberlain.
David Ortiz was back. Josh Beckett was pitching for the Red Sox. The Fenway Park crowd was pumped up for the renewal of the rivalry with the Yankees.
None of that bothered Joba Chamberlain. The right-hander took another big step in his transition from the bullpen to the rotation with his best major league start as surging New York beat Boston 1-0 Friday night for its seventh straight win. The third-place Yankees pulled within two of Boston and stayed three back of AL East-leading Tampa Bay, which won 5-3 at Kansas City. New York also bolstered its bullpen and lineup, acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
For New York, Chamberlain's effort and the added help made it a big night.
"I've had quality starts against everybody," Chamberlain bragged. "You understand it's going to be a tough game. He [Beckett] is an unbelievable pitcher. He battles and claws."
"I was the second-best pitcher today," Beckett said, "and ultimately that gets you a loss most of the time." Chamberlain has allowed three runs or less in all 10 starts this year. On Friday, he gave up three singles -- one to Ortiz, who missed the previous 45 games with a left wrist injury -- and struck out nine in a career-high seven innings.
"He matched Beckett inning for inning," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
MY TAKE ON THIS: We are in biggg trouble and we need to take the final 2 games of this series. We can not let the Yankees leave Fenway Pock on Sunday night tied with us. This is truly a 3-team race and we have the least momentum out of those teams. We could find ourselves 5 games behind the Yankees and Ray in the next 10 days or so. Manny didn't even pinch-hit in this game, so that probably tells you something right there. Could be out for the weekend. Hopefully, he won't be DL'd. We are in big trouble. Get out the pooper-scoopers!!! Good bye, Manny. Hope you last until game 4 of this year's World Series. We need to have you against the Mets. After that....you are gone-a-mundo!!! I guess you'll get a 4-year $100M deal someplace.
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