When the Red Sox could not greet one familiar face, Mike Mussina, rudely yesterday at Yankee Stadium, they went after another, Mariano Rivera. Although their howdy-do to Rivera began with an effective insult, the proud closer responded to a bases-loaded, nobody-out threat by shutting the door on the Sox, who lost, 2-1, to the Yankees. The final half-inning injected the only note of drama in a game that featured a quality start from Red Sox rookie Justin Masterson (six innings, six hits, two runs) in his first outing against New York and a more masterful one from Mussina, who held the Sox scoreless for six frames.
The first four batters Rivera faced reached safely, alternating between singles and hit batsmen. The two HBPs were the first registered by Rivera this season. Rivera has blown 11 regular-season save chances against the Red Sox, the most blemishes on his record from any one team, and two more in postseason play. Yesterday, however, Rivera recovered quickly to retire the bottom third of the Red Sox batting order Coco Crisp (strikeout), Jason Varitek (pop-up to first base) and Julio Lugo (strikeout) in order. The red-hot Dustin Pedroia was able to solve Mussina for two singles, but in the first inning he was thrown out trying to stretch the one-hit to left field into a double.
Tonight, Joba Chamberlain will make his first-ever start against the Red Sox. For the Sox, Tim Wakefield will make his 46th appearance, 28th start, vs. the Yankees.
Nation Notes: Clay Buchholz had his worst outing since he was optioned to Pawtucket, giving up six hits and five runs over five innings in Pawtucket’s 5-2 home loss to Lehigh Valley last night. Buchholz threw 88 pitches, walking two and striking out five. Bartolo Colon is long-tossing from 120 feet, and the Red Sox anticipate Colon throwing from the mound soon after the team returns home Monday night to face the Minnesota Twins. While slugger David Ortiz is experiencing some discomfort in his wrist, none of it has been unexpected by the team’s medical staff, things appear to be going as planned.
