Good to See Some Things Returning to Normal

YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5
Mismatched Sox
HRs in 10th give Yankees another win

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff | August 21, 2006

Jonathan Papelbon has saved more games in a season than any Red Sox rookie ever, saved more games than Keith Foulke did in the World Series year, saved more games than anyone had a reasonable right to expect.

But when called upon last night to save a season -- the Red Sox one out away from stalling a relentless Yankee march toward October -- Papelbon came face to face with Derek Jeter.

Jeter claimed another victim, spoiling an otherwise sizzling performance by Papelbon (a career-high five strikeouts) with an opposite-field single that floated to right field and fell a few feet in front of Gabe Kapler. That hit scored Melky Cabrera, who had opened the ninth with a double and taken third on a wild pitch, and tied the score at 5.

Mariano Rivera pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth and the teams went into extras.

Jason Giambi (5 RBIs) hit his second home run of the night, and 36th of the season, off Craig Hansen to open the 10th, Jorge Posada followed with a two-run homer, and the Bombers made it four straight wins over the Sox with an 8-5 triumph.

With 39 games to play, the Sox fell 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East while remaining 4 games behind the White Sox in the wild-card race.

In his last 10 appearances dating to July 29, Hansen has allowed 13 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings with an ERA of 11.32.

``Stunned," said Boston starter Curt Schilling, who left with a 5-3 lead and pitched seven strong innings despite a 57-minute rain delay.