A-Rod Bolsters Resume

3-Run Homer Difference in 7-5 Win

He heard every time there is a regular season series with the Red Sox or Mets. Every time the post-season rolls around. Alex Rodriguez doesn't come through in the clutch, when the spotlight is at its glaringly brightest. He heard it this past weekend as the Yankees lost 2 of 3 to the Mets and the Bombers left 15 men on base Sunday night. But very quietly, A-Rod has had some big hits. Last night was one of them. Leading 4-1 over the Red Sox, A-Rod broke the game open with a 3-run blast off of Tim Wakefield to give the Yankees a 7-1 lead in the 7th. It was the difference maker as the Yankees bullpen hung on for a 7-5 win.

Rodriguez also had a big hit against the Sox earlier this month when he hit a monstrous shot off of Curt Schilling to break up a tie game. Part of the reason he gets so much heat is that A-Rod comes up in so many of these situations, and holding true to baseball form, he fails 7 to 7 1/2 times out of 10. While that may lead to a good batting average, it doesn't say much for you when you are the highest paid player in the game with the highest fan expectations. He'll get a reprieve for one night though.

Jaret Wright has struggled with injuries throughout much of his career, but his health and pitching have been much better of late. Last night he threw a very effective 5 innings and left with a 3-0 lead. Having thrown only 77 pitches he would have gone further, but he tweaked his groin in the 3rd inning and Joe Torre was not taking any chances. Wright will be re-evaluated today. Wright, who wore a bull’s-eye on his back last year for hit balls and broken bats, was nailed in the side by the very first batter he faced, Kevin Youkilis. Wright trapped the ball against his body with his bare hand for the out.

Johnny Damon gave Wright an instead lead by hitting his 17th career lead off home run in the 1st. It was his 5th home run of the season and his 1st lead off home run as a Yankee. In the third, Damon helped set things up again by following Andy Phillips walk with a double. Derek Jeter bounced one back through the middle for a 2-run single and a 3-0 lead. Wright (2-3) meanwhile kept the Sox hitters at bay, getting out of 1st and 2nd, no one out jams in both the 2nd and 4th innings.

The Yankees tacked one on in the 6th without the aid of a hit. Rodriguez struck out, but Doug Mirabelli couldn't handle Tim Wakefield's (3-6) knuckler and A-Rod reached on the passed ball. Two more passed balls sandwiched around a ground out brought Rodriguez home with the Yankees fourth run.

The Red Sox are dangerous even when behind and they showed it again last night. Trailing 7-1 in the 7th, Scott Proctor, who had replaced Wright to start the 6th, ran into trouble by issuing back-to-back lead off walks to Youkilis and Mark Loretta. Proctor managed to get David Ortiz to line out to center, but Manny Ramirez smoked a Poctor pitch deep into the center field seats for a 3-run homer to cut the lead to 7-4. Manny being Manny, also walked about the first 10 steps out of the batters box, inviting a future fastball in his ear. Unfortunately, the Yankees never have the balls to do that.

Mike Myers replaced Proctor and promptly walked Trot Nixon. Kyle Farnsworth's walk to light hitting Alex Cora brought the tying run to the plate in the person of Doug Mirabelli, but Farnsworth bounced back, K'ing Mirabelli swinging.

In the eighth inning Farnsworth created the same trouble as Proctor - walking Youkilis and Loretta with the Yankee killers, Ortiz and Ramirez, coming up. Joe Torre practically ran to the mound to fetch Mariano Rivera from the bullpen. Mo jammed Ortiz with a cutter to pop him up for the 2nd out of the inning. Rivera left one out over the plate for Ramirez who ripped it to center for an RBI single. And yes, Ramirez strolled out of the box admiring his single.

The Sox had one more shot against Rivera in the 9th. Cora singled with one away to give the Sox a pair of chances with the tying run at the plate, but Rivera popped Varitek up to Phillips at first and struck out Dustan Mohr to end it for this 9th save.

Notes

Gary Sheffield returned to the lineup after a 1 game rehab assignment at Double-A Trenton. He went 0-3 with 2 walks, a run scored, and a stolen base. He also confirmed that he has a broken hamate bone in his left hand. To make room on the roster, Colter Bean was designated for assignment

Kevin Reese is expected to be returned to Columbus today, with either Ramiro Mendoza or Matt Smith being recalled.

Last night marked the third time the Yankees faced Tim Wakefield and the first time they were able to score more than 3 runs off of him.

David Wells is expected to be activated this weekend for the Sox and Coco Crisp isn't far behind.

In addition to Wright's groin problem, Jorge Posada is expected to miss tonight's game and is listed as day-to-day with a sore tendon behind his knee. Posada is looking to change the strap on his shin guard to alleviate the pain.