The Red Sox got it done in their two game series of the week with two solid wins against the Orioles. In the process, they’ve now established a nice three game cushion in the AL East so no matter what happens this weekend, the Red Sox will begin the new week in first place.
Pitching reigned in the two wins. On Wednesday, Curt Schilling improved to 3-1 with seven solid innings. He gave up just one run on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Alex Cora finished with two hits with a solo homerun in the 6-1 win. Kevin Youkilis went three for four with two runs while David Ortiz went two for three with two walks, two runs and an RBI.
Yesterday, it was Josh Beckett’s turn and he improved to a perfect 5-0. He gave up two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in eight solid frames. Jon Papelbon pitched a shutout ninth and he picked up save number seven while Wily Mo Pena provided most of the offense. He went two for four with a homerun and four RBIs.
Next up is a three game series against the last place Yankees in New York. The Yankees are struggling and with a series win here, the Red Sox can really bury them. Maybe someone should tell the people in the Bronx that it’s not much of a rivalry when one team is in first and the other is in last.
