Thursday Night: Boston 4, Minnesota 3. That's nine in a row, right?

Both teams scored in the first inning; Payton doubled, went to third on Bellhorn's grounder to first and scored on Varitek's sacrifice liner to left. Kevin Youkilis's bases-loaded single in the 4th made it 2-1. In the 9th, Shawn Wooten homered and another run scored on an error. Both were needed as Denney Tomori allowed two doubles and a single, but held on for the save. Box and recap.

The Yankees and the Pirates tied 2-2 this afternoon; Cesar Crespo and Derek Jeter both went 0-for-2. ... From the Times: "Mariano Rivera pitched batting practice for 12 minutes on Wednesday and said he felt fine. Rivera is behind the other pitchers because he did not throw during the off-season. 'I didn't want to, simple as that,' he said."