Quasi-Playoff Game 1

The Red Sox are playing 143 regular season games this year. In addition, they play 19 quasi-playoff games, and an conditionally determined number of recognized playoff games. The semi-playoff games, known in the vernacular as "Yankees Suck Games" began today with the first real encounter of the Bronx Bombers and the Boston Dirt Dogs since my life fell apart last October. It ended gloriously, with a solid win for the good guys, an in-your-face bottom line louder than any flyover sign.

The vaunted Yankees lineup - their 8th hitter was Bernie Williams, and only their 9th batter has never been an all-star - was held to 5 hits and 6 walks and left 9 on base. The Red Sox, sans Nomar and Trot, collected 9 hits, 5 walks, and a few free baserunners on the Yank's horrible fielding and left just 6 men on, picking up 4 more runs than the visitors. The crowd figured strongly into the game, obviously getting to Pay-Rod early. He was so distracted in his first at-bat, which was an uneventful, low-pressure situation, that he flipped the crowd off after grounding out. Lowe, who could have experience "fan hangover" from his October gopher ball was lent courage by the rousing crowd: "It really meant a lot'' to hear the fans cheer, Wakefield said. "They've really opened their arms and embraced me like a second son."

Selected Statistics:
Yankees hitters #2-5: 2 for 14, 3 BB, 0 R, 0 RBI
Red Sox hitters #2-5: 5 for 15, 1 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI
Yankees relievers: 2.2 innings, 0 H, 4 BB, 0 R
Red Sox relievers: 2 innings, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 R
NY starters now batting over .250: 1 (Sheffield)
BOS starters now batting over .250: 4 (Millar, Damon, Manny, Mirabelli)
Record of defending World Champion Marlins: 8-2, best in the big leagues