Magic Number 3
The last time I checked last night the Boston Red Sox were cruising along nicely over Oakland and the Yankees had a commanding 5-0 margin over Tampa Bay. When I checked first thing this morning, the Sox had cruised on to a 7-3 win, but the Yankees lost 7-6 to a walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the 10th.
The shoe appears to be on the other foot now. The Red Sox had their mini swoon last week to tighten up the American League East race. Now the Yankees, not ones to be outdone, seem to be starting one their own mini swoon with 2 loses in a row.
The Red Sox are 3 up in the AL East and the magic number to clinch is also 3 (you have to like the symmetry). No matter how you do the math, things are looking good (I hope that I do not come to regret writing that…).
Of note last night were the return of Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis who both got into the game for 2 at bats (Manny 1-2 and Youk 0-2). It is important for them to get back in there swinging a bat to work out any rust for the playoffs.
Things are felling pretty good in Red Sox Nation this morning…