Game 1

Game 1 - Red Sox win 5-4 in 10 innings *********************************

Yankees went with Kenny Rogers while the Red Sox countered with their ace John Lackey. 

The Yankees started the scoring in the top of the 3rd with a two out, 2 RBI single by Joe Mauer. The Red Sox cut the lead in half in the bottom of the 4th when Michael Cuddyer grounded out to short with runners on first and third scoring Garciaparra to cut the lead to 2-1. 

The Yankees scored single runs in the 5th and 6th. In the 5th, the Yankees put together 4 consecutive singles and Justin Morneau getting the final one scoring Felipe Lopez from third. Then the Yankees scored an unearned run in the 6th inning courtesy of a Dan Uggla error taking the score 4-1. 

With one out in the bottom of the 6th, Manny Ramirez doubled to left. One out later Russ Helms traded places with him with a double of his own scoring Ramirez from 2nd. 

The Sox tied the score in the bottom of the 8th inning when Michael Cuddyer got on with a single then scored on a Manny Ramirez home run bringing the score to 4-4. 

John Lackey did not fair well as he threw 5.1 innings giving up one earned run and three unearned runs. 

In the bottom of the 10th, the Sox first two hitters got out when Cuddyer doubled to left. The Yankees brought in Chuck James to face Manny Ramirez. Ramirez got the better end of that deal, slicing a single to left scoring Cuddyer from 2nd and giving the Red Sox the early series lead 1-0.

Game 2 - Yankees win 5-3 *******************************************

Big Papi would not take long to make his presence known in Game 2. With one out, the Yankees Mike Mussina hit the Sox #2 hitter, Nomar Garciaparra bringing Ortiz to the plate who deposited a 3-1 pitch into the left-centerfield bleachers giving the Sox the early 2-0 lead. 

The Yankees did not take long to answer the call. In the top of the second inning Bill Hall doubled to left and Justin Morneau singled to center scoring Hall taking the score 2-1. Then the Bombers took the lead in the third when Joe Mauer led off the inning with a base on balls. Bay lined a 1-1 pitch to left-centerfield scoring Mauer from first. Giambi walked putting runners first and second. Felipe Lopez lined a single in the 5 hole between short and third scoring Bay. 

With the Yankees already up 3-2, they put another 2 spot up in the 5th. After a single and a walk, Giambi lined a double to right-centerfield scoring Mauer from 2nd. Hall finished off the 5th inning scoring with a double down the third baseline sending the Yankees to the bottom of the 5th with a 5-2 lead.  

Red Sox would round out the scoring in this game with an RBI single from Nomar Garciaparra as the Yankees even up the series at 1 game a piece before the series heads to the Bronx. 

Game 3 - Red Sox win 9-8 *********************************************

Yankees scored in the first inning with a 2 out, 2 RBI single to left from Jason Bay. The Yankees started rookie Joe Saunders who did not last long. In the top of the 2nd inning and the bases loaded, Garciaparra hit an infield single scoring Wes Helms from third. David Ortiz would follow with a sacrifice fly to tie the score 2-2. Yanks skipper Harmeling brought the hook and went to Justin Verlander to stop the bleeding. 

The Red Sox would flex their muscles in the top of the 5th inning with their big boys. Papi and Manny Ramirez hit solo home runs to give the Sox a 4-2 lead. Not to be outdone, the Yankees showed a little power themselves and took the lead in the bottom of the 5th thanks to a 3 run home run by Justin Morneau bringing the score to 5-4. 

The power continued in the top of the 6th. With two outs, Ryan Freel got the rally started with a single to left. Garciaparra followed with a 2 run homer wrapping around the foul pole in left. However the scoring was not done yet as David Ortiz walked then Michael Cuddyer lined a 2-0 pitch to left to give the Red Sox a 8-5 lead. 

In a game where the home run was the theme, the Yankees got another one from Joe Mauer. Mauer slammed the first pitch he saw new pitcher Rich Harden over the rightfield fence for a two run shot, bringing NY within one. 

David Ortiz cushioned the lead to 2 runs with a solo home run, his second of the game and third of the series in the top of the 8th. 

Sox sent Papelbon to the hill in the bottom of the 9th as they have done so many times during the year. The untouchable closer was to face the bottom end of the Yankees order. Lopez led off the inning with a single to right. Utley grounded out to short moving Lopez to 2nd. Mauer shot a single between first and second scoring Lopez from 2nd brining the Yankees again to within one again. But that is as close as they would get as pinch hitter Brandon Phillips struck out to end the game. 

Game 4 - Red Sox 5-2 ************************************************

The Red Sox would strike first with a three spot in the top of the 2nd as Wes Helms would hit a 2 run homer to left. Singles Khalil Greene and Ryan Freel would set up the Garciaparra single up the middle to give the Sox the early 3-0 lead. 

Yankees would get 2 runs in the bottom 4th with a single by Alex Rios and an RBI ground out by Chase Utley.

Greene would get an RBI single in the top of the 5th to give the Sox a 4-2 lead. 

Russel Martin would finish the scoring in the top of the 7th inning with an RBI single. 

Sox starter John Maine would not fair in the decision as he only went 4.2 innings, however 6 relievers would hold the Yankees to 2 hits over the final 4.2 innings. Papelbon would get get his 2nd save, while Rich Harden gets the win in his 1.1 innings of work. 

Game 5 Yankees clobber  the Red Sox 23-3*******************************

Yankees were not to go down without a fight as they clobbered the Red Sox 23-3. 

The scoring started in the first inning and Sox starter John Lackey did not make it out of the fourth inning. John Maine was the patsy as the Yankees applied 12 runs on 7 hits in 1.1 innings. Jason Bay smacked not one, but two grand slams in the game finishing with 9 RBI's in the game. He came to the plate in the 7th and 8th innings with the bases loaded and cleared them with one swing of the bat. 

Yankees starter Eric Bedard shut down the BoSox offense for 2 runs over 6.1 innings giving up three hits along the way. 

Game 6 - Yankees win 5-1*********************************************

It was battle of the lefties with the Yankees sending Kenny Rogers to the mound for his 2nd start countered by the Red Sox Jeff Francis. 

The game was quiet for the first three innings with Francis bailing himself out with two double plays in the first three innings. However the 4th inning would be a different story. After loading the bases and no out, Francis faced Morneau who lined a bases clearing double to deep center field. 

Red Sox got a sacrifice fly from Jimmy Rollins in the bottom of the 6th before the Yanks put the nail in the coffin with the final two runs courtesy of a Bill Hall two run home run. With this win, it would bring the series tied 3-3 and send it to a deciding Game 7.

Game 7 - Red Sox 5-3 and head to the ALCS ******************************

Yanks and Sox would be fighting for their place in the ALCS. 

Red Sox started the scoring early a two run home run for Michael Cuddyer in the bottom of the first inning, giving starter Derek Lowe a little breathing room. 

After a two out double by Bill Hall, Alex Rios lined a single to shallow right scoring Hall from second, but Rios was thrown at second trying to stretch it to a double. 

Red Sox would extend the lead in the bottom of the 4th. With one out, Rollins reached base on the error by Felipe Lopez. Helms grounded out to second moving Rollins to 2nd. Dan Uggla squibbed a ball down the first base line that the defense let roll to see if would go foul or not, but stayed fair putting runners on the corners for Sox catcher Russell Martin. Martin deposited a 2-1 pitch over the green monster in leftfield for a 3 run home run giving the Sox a very comfortable 5-1 lead. 

Lowe was not dominating, but was getting the job done. Lowe handed the ball off to the very reliable bullpen. Even though it was not a save situation, Sox manager Dan Bayless went to his closer anyway in the 9th. For the 2nd time in the series, the Yankees would get to the unbelievable closer. With two outs, Chase Utley lined a single down the rightfield line and David Ross followed with a 2 run home run to bring the score to 5-3. Jason Bay continued the recent hit parade. With the tying run at the plate, Papelbon took his chances of trying to pick off Bay and IT WORKED! The Sox win the game and the series with a first base pick off! 

Sox go on to face the Angels in the ALCS. 

Series MVP is Manny Ramirez