Jason Varitek banged the game-tying home run and Walker and Ortiz put the game on ice, but John Burkett was the guy who cowboyed up the most last night. Facing Roy Halladay, dragging a 14.73 ERA against Toronto this season and pitching on three days rest for the first time in almost five years, Burkett threw six solid innings. ... The last time he started on three days rest was September 1, 1998, allowing four runs in .2 of an inning and throwing only 18 pitches.

Jeff Horrigan's game story begins: "For 85 years, New Englanders have insisted that the planets would have to be aligned just right for the star-crossed Red Sox to finally win a World Series title. With Mars glimmering on the horizon this week as it makes its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years, it was only fitting that the Sox launched a couple of balls into orbit ..."

Casey Fossum threw only 2 pitches for Pawtucket before a line drive was hit off his left knee. X-rays were negative, although Fossum is in Boston for further examination. Casey: "The trainer there said it hit the femur and that's the toughest bone in the body to break." ... I like David Ortiz -- a lot. ... Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who rarely has a bad word to say about anyone, took a few shots at David Wells for not throwing between starts as he should. Wells was pounded by the White Sox last night. "He needs to do more work. He has not been throwing between starts [for probably a month], and it shows." And for the third start in a row, Diva Wells hightailed it out of the locker room without talking to reporters.

Reading material for a day off: Jonathan Daly looks back at the first night game in baseball history. ... Portland Sox Fan's Blog has a Fenway Cam that takes a shot of the park every (I think) 5 minutes. ... A short piece at Musing from RSN says Pedro has been both a "super hero and a complete baby" and has worn out his time in Boston. Okay, he's a Yankees fan, but he doesn't want Martinez in the Bronx either. ... Jayson Stark notes that Augie Ojeda of the Cubs was intentionally walked on August 12 even though his batting average was .000 (0-for-9). Also: In 2001, Blue Jays third baseman Luis Lopez was intentionally walked in his first ML at-bat. ... And Larry Mahnken, who writes one of my favorite blogs, takes a long look at the Yankees roster and their chances in the playoffs. ... Well, that's if they make the playoffs!